Tensions are rising in the city of Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, after stones were pelted on the immersion procession of Maa Durga and the murder of a young Hindu man named Ram Gopal Mishra. The dispute between the two communities began over playing the DJ during the immersion procession of Maa Durga. This dispute escalated so much that people of a certain community started pelting stones on the procession. In the midst of this dispute, Ram Gopal climbed the house from where stones were allegedly thrown first and removed a green flag installed there.
After this Ram Gopal hoisted the saffron flag there due to which people of the certain community became furious and came out of their houses with swords and knives. They again attacked the procession and during the stampede, people from the attacking community dragged Ram Gopal, to their house. There they beat him up and shot him several times due to which he died on the spot.
After this incident, the enraged mobs began torching houses and vehicles in the area. The police have taken about 30 people into custody in connection with this incident. Police force and PAC from many nearby districts have been mobilized to the spot. Top officials are camping on the spot to maintain peace. Internet has been shut down in the violence-affected area and there is a curfew-like situation there.
Statement of the Chief Minister
After the incident, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a big meeting and sent ADG Law and Order and STF Chief Amitabh Yash to Bahraich to control the deteriorating situation. Yogi Adityanath is constantly monitoring the situation. CM Yogi wrote on ‘X’, that those who spoil the atmosphere in Mahsi of Bahraich district will not be spared. He also assured that safety is guaranteed to all but instructions have been given to identify the miscreants and those whose negligence has led to the incident and to take strict action against them.
Response on Social Media
While there is a lot of resentment among the people of Bahraich regarding this incident, people are also expressing their anger on social media. However, it is not that everyone is against the killing of Ram Gopal Mishra. There is also a side on social media who are hesitant to oppose the killing of Ram Gopal just because a green flag was taken down.
The fundamentalists are justifying Gopal’s murder in different ways. A section of people on social media are writing that Gopal had entered the house, so his murder was justified. But a bigger problem than them are those so-called seculars who are trying to cover up this murder. There is a YouTuber Shyam Meera Singh who has blamed Gopal himself for his death. However, he did not have the courage to say a word against the fundamentalists.
After Gopal’s tragic death, Alt News co-founder and alleged fact checker Mohammad Zubair shared a video about the incident and wrote, “In the video, Gopal Mishra is seen forcefully removing the green flag and replacing it with a saffron flag. Later, Gopal was shot dead.
Another journalist named Sachin Gupta shared a video on ‘X’ about this incident and indirectly blaming Ram Gopal, writing that during the riot, Gopal took down the green flag from the roof of a house and waved the saffron flag. The crowd was motivating him to do so. Shortly after this, Gopal was shot dead.
Both of them have removed the reference of stone pelting before the removal of the flag. BJP MLA from Deoria and former media advisor to CM Yogi, Shalabh Mani Tripathi, while replying to Sachin Gupta on this incident, wrote on ‘X’, explaining in detail, he wrote that the incident happened during the immersion, as stones were pelted on the idol of Maa Durga without any reason, and extremists tried to desecrate the idol of Maa Durga, even the devotees of Maa were murdered, later Ram Gopal Mishra was shot several times. Tripathi wrote that, “No one will be able to save the murderers by making a one-sided video, such action will be taken that generations will remember it.”
BJP spokesperson Ajay Alok has raised questions on the violence committed during idol immersion at different places. Ajay Alok wrote on ‘X’, “Stone pelting and violence took place during idol immersion from Bengal to Jharkhand to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Why did it happen? Have you ever thought about it?? This courage comes where the “demography” starts changing. Wake up Hindus or lie down. These people will trample us if we become weak.”