Violence continued unabated in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh on the second day on Monday following communal clashes during Durga idol immersion.
Reports said that violence has spread to rural areas, forcing district authorities to discontinue Internet services.
Miscreants vandalized and set fire to a showroom and a hospital. Many houses were also burnt.
According to sources, many houses have been burnt in Chandpaiya and Kabadiapurwa villages. Over 30 miscreants have been detained so far, they said.
Sunday night, after the murder of a youth in the communal violence, FIR was registered against many people including the main accused Salman.
On the other hand, the puja committee remained adamant till late night that the accused should be arrested. Slogans for hanging the accused kept echoing on the streets late at night.
People participating in the funeral procession of youth Ram Gopal Mishra, who was killed in the firing, on Monday set fire to many vehicles and shops. Villagers came out on the streets with sticks. When the protests turned violent, the police fired tear gas shells and lathicharged.
However after pacifying the family members of the deceased youth , cremation was performed in the late afternoon amid tight security cover.
Seeing the worsening situation, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered ADG (Law and Order) and STF Chief Amitabh Yash and Home secretary to immediately go to Bahraich. As soon as Amitabh Yash reached Bahraich, he came into action and chased away the miscreants with a pistol. The video of STF Chief has also gone viral on social media.
CM Yogi Adityanath had already issued strict instructions of officials to maintain peace at any cost and the culprits should be dealt with strict hands.
Hardi police station in-charge and Mahsi outpost in-charge were suspended late in the night.
Six company PAC along with 4 SP rank officers and two additional SPs, 6 COs, one company RAF were sent to Bahraich.
The Durga idol immersion procession from Rehua Mansoor village of Ramgaon police station area reached Maharajganj market of Hardi police station area on Sunday . People of a particular community shot dead 22-year-old Ram Gopal Mishra, resident of Rehua Mansoor village, for playing DJ in front of a religious place.
After information of the death of the youth there was arson and stone pelting along with the protest against this.
Amidst tight security, there was chaos when the body reached the village in the morning after post-mortem on Monday.
Thousands of people along with family members walked towards the tehsil complex carrying the dead body. The villagers are demanding the hanging of the criminals and bulldozing the house.
After persuasion by the MLA and the police administration, the family agreed for the cremation.
Bahraich SP Vrinda Shukla said, “We are controlling the entire situation. We have used all our strength. We are trying to disperse all the miscreants who are trying to create trouble. The situation is under control.
Meanwhile , Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, ‘My appeal is that law and order should be maintained. The incident is sad. The government should do justice. At the time when this procession took place, the police should have kept in mind whether there was security on the route or not, whether there was adequate police deployment or not. What was being played on the loudspeaker? The administration should have taken care of this. This incident happened due to the government’s mistake.”
Samajwadi Party MP from Ayodhya Awadhesh Prasad said, “I appeal to the residents of Bahraich and all sections of the society to contribute in restoring peace there. This is a heart-wrenching and painful incident. If the police had the preparation been proper, such an incident would not have happened. It is the responsibility of the CM and the administration to maintain law and order and brotherhood among the people in the state.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said that any conspiracy to disturb the peace and harmony of UP will not succeed.
” Those protecting the rioters are once again becoming active, but we have to remain alert and alert. The bright future of the state will not be allowed to be tampered with. The culprits will be brought within the ambit of law and given strict punishment and the victims will get complete justice. Appeal to all citizens to maintain peace and patience,” he said.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi has appealed to the public not to take the law into their own hands. She said that the news of violence in Bahraich, and inaction of the administration is extremely sad and unfortunate.
“I appeal to the Chief Minister of the state and the state administration to take immediate action, take the public into confidence and stop the violence. Strictest action should be taken against the culprits. My sincere appeal to the public is that please do not take law into your hands and maintain peace,” she said.