Uttar Pradesh: Bahraich remains under tight secuirty following violence
Oct 15, 2024
Bahraich (Uttar Pradesh) [India], October 15 : After violence broke out in Bahraich district following the killing of a man during a Goddress Durga idol immersion procession two days ago in the Mahasi locality under the Hardi police station limits, security remained tight in the area on Tuesday.
All shops and other commercial establishments are remained shut in the area today.
According to the police, 30 rioters have been taken into custody so far. A protest was held on Monday after a man was shot dead during a clash between two communities in Mahasi's Maharajganj area on October 13 during Durga idol immersion.
Shops and other properties were set on fire by protestors prompting the police to resort to lathicharge and to fire tear gas shells.
Meanwhile, Opposition leaders hit out at the Uttar Pradesh government over the violence.
Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai accused the state government of "harassing" a community.
"The entire government has failed; the government should immediately stop the arson that happened there. A community is being harassed there. Only a show is being made there, in reality, nothing (action) is being done," Ajay Rai told ANI.
Expressing his concern about the incident, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) MP ET Muhammed Basheer stated that such situations are arising due to the 'wrongdoings' of the Uttar Pradesh government.
Speaking to ANI, Basheer said, "I feel extremely sorry to hear about this...tension still prevails...lawlessness is prevailing there (UP). The main reason is that the government is miserably failing in controlling this kind of thing. On the other hand, because of the wrongdoings of the government, such situations are arising."
"Every day we get sad stories from UP. The government approach is really instrumental in creating this kind of mistrust between communities. Let a very comprehensive inquiry take place and the culprits should be brought before the law. The government should control these types of things or else they are encouraging such incidents," he added.
Bahraich Superintendent of Police (SP), Vrinda Shukla, said, "In Mahasi's Maharajganj area, a procession was passing by a mosque through a Muslim area. The groups argued on some issues. A person from the Hindu community died after bullets were fired on him and thereafter a tense situation arose."
Following the killing, a protest erupted in the Bahraich. Police resorted to tear gas and lathi charges to disperse people who were protesting.
According to police, 30 people have been taken into custody in connection with the incident that took place in the Mahasi area of Bahraich and a hunt has been launched for the main accused.