Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged on Monday that the recent communal violence in Bahraich was orchestrated by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as a strategy for the upcoming elections.
Yadav stated, “Whatever happened in Bahraich was planned by the BJP in view of the upcoming elections in the state.”
The unrest began following the death of Ram Gopal Mishra, a 22-year-old resident of Rehua Mansoor village, who was shot during a religious procession on October 13. The incident escalated into communal violence after a dispute over loud music played outside a place of worship in Maharajganj. This turmoil resulted in protests that saw shops, vehicles, and a hospital set ablaze, prompting the authorities to impose an internet shutdown for four days.
In the aftermath of Mishra’s death, authorities registered at least 11 FIRs in connection with the violence, involving around 1,000 individuals, including six named suspects. Two men accused of killing Mishra were shot in the leg by police during an encounter while allegedly attempting to flee to Nepal.
Following the unrest, a station house officer (SHO) and a police outpost in-charge were suspended. Additionally, Circle Officer Rupendra Gaur, Tehsildar Ravikant Dwivedi, and District Information Officer Ghulam Waris Siddiqui were removed from their positions.
In related developments, the Uttar Pradesh administration issued demolition notices to several individuals in the area. The Allahabad High Court has granted these individuals additional time to file their replies, with the next hearing scheduled for October 23.
