Ganesh Kendale
LUCKNOW: A violent dispute over DJ music during the Durga idol immersion in Mehsi Maharajganj, under the Hardi police station, escalated into gunfire between two communities.
The incident led to the death of 22-year-old Ramgopal Mishra from Rahua Mansoor village. He was shot during the altercation and succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
Following his death, outraged villagers vandalized vehicles and set them ablaze in the Maharajganj market.The immersion procession was halted, and Ramgopal’s family staged a protest by placing his body in front of the medical college.
Idol immersions in nearby areas have also been suspended due to the unrest. A heavy police force has been deployed to control the situation. Six companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel, along with additional police forces from adjoining districts, have been mobilized in Bahraich. Six gazetted officers have been sent to the district as a precautionary measure.
Additional Director General of Police, Gorakhpur Zone, Kalluri SP Kumar, who was on the way to the clash-torn area, said the situation had been brought under control by the police.
The chaos began during the idol immersion in Maharajganj market when participants, engaged in singing and dancing, were confronted by members of another community demanding that the DJ be turned off. This led to a dispute, escalating into stone-pelting and, subsequently, gunfire.
Among the injured was 22-year-old Gopal Mishra from Rahua Mansoor village, who succumbed to his injuries after being rushed to the district hospital. Another victim, 30-year-old Rajan from Rahua Mansoor, was also shot, while 22-year-old Sudhakar Tiwari from Tiwari Purwa suffered head injuries from the stone-pelting.
The deceased, who was married just four months ago, sparked outrage among locals upon news of his death. Angry residents began vandalizing property, blocked the Bahraich-Sitapur highway, and raised slogans against the police at the medical college.
Following the death, panic spread throughout the area, prompting the deceased’s family to stage a protest by laying his body in front of the medical college. The police are working to de-escalate the situation, as reports indicate that four houses were set ablaze during the unrest. The immersion of idols in Bahraich city and nearby areas, including Fakharpur, Ramgaon, and Kaisarganj, has been suspended in light of the ongoing tensions.
In response to the escalating violence, a large contingent of police and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) was deployed to the area. To regain control, the police resorted to a lathi charge. Tensions remain high in the vicinity, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Hardi police station.
