Two accused in Bahraich Durga Puja violence shot by police while fleeing to Nepal

Following the violent clashes during a Durga Puja procession in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, police shot two accused, Sarfaraz and Taleem, while they were attempting to flee to Nepal. The encounter occurred on Thursday near the Handa Basehri area, which is located close to the India-Nepal border. Both individuals are believed to have played significant roles in the murder of 22-year-old Ram Gopal Mishra, who was killed amid escalating tensions on October 13.

The violence erupted when a dispute arose over loud music being played during the immersion procession. Witnesses reported that the situation escalated quickly, with members from two different communities clashing, resulting in stones being thrown and gunfire exchanged. Mishra was shot multiple times after allegedly removing a green flag and replacing it with a saffron flag atop a structure, a provocative act that intensified the already charged atmosphere. This incident led to several injuries among participants in the procession.

Sarfaraz and Taleem, who are sons of Abdul Hameed—the primary accused in the violence—sustained leg injuries during the police encounter and were subsequently transported to a district hospital for medical attention. Alongside the two injured suspects, police apprehended three additional individuals during the encounter, bringing the total number of arrests related to this case to 55.

Rukhsar, the daughter of Abdul Hameed, raised alarms about her family’s safety. She claimed that her father, her brothers, and another young man were detained by the UP Special Task Force (STF) on October 16. In a video statement, Rukhsar expressed her fears, stating, “We have not received any information about them from any police station, and we fear they may be killed in an encounter!”

In response to the violence and the police actions, the Congress party criticized the Uttar Pradesh government, alleging that it was attempting to cover up its failures through "fake encounters." UP Congress chief Ajai Rai condemned the state’s handling of law and order issues, claiming, "The government has been doing fake encounters since ever. They are just trying to cover up their failure."

The initial clashes during the procession resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries, prompting a widespread outcry from the local community. Following Mishra's death, his family members met with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow, demanding justice and strict action against the perpetrators. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Adityanath assured that justice would be provided to the victim’s family and announced immediate financial assistance of ₹10 lakh to them.

As a precautionary measure, local authorities imposed temporary internet shutdowns to curb the spread of misinformation and prevent further escalation of violence. However, services were restored in Bahraich on Thursday as the situation stabilized. Police have since registered 12 FIRs related to the incident, indicating the ongoing investigation's intensity and seriousness.