In a major breakthrough, five suspects involved in the Bahraich violence case were arrested on Thursday after a confrontation with the Uttar Pradesh police. The encounter resulted in two of the suspects sustaining gunshot wounds, as confirmed by the Superintendent of Police, Vrinda Shukla. According to Shukla, "Five people have been arrested. Two of them have been injured in police firing. I am here to assess their condition. One of the injured is Md. Sarfaraz, the other is Md. Talib."

The police had gone to the Nanpara area in Bahraich as part of their efforts to recover a murder weapon linked to the case. During this operation, the suspects allegedly opened fire on the officers, prompting the police to retaliate. "Md Sarfaraz and Md Talib had kept the weapon in a loaded state and used it to fire on the police. In self-defence, police retaliated, injuring the two. They are alive and receiving medical care," Shukla stated. She further assured the public that the other three suspects were also taken into custody and that strict action will be taken against all of them. An active search continues for any other individuals who may have been involved in the incident.

The suspects were reportedly attempting to escape across the border into Nepal, which is located near Bahraich district in Uttar Pradesh. This information was also confirmed by senior officials. "Five accused have been arrested," said Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash during an interview with a news channel.

Speaking on the details of the encounter, Yash added, "I have information of exchange of fire and gunshot injuries." He mentioned that Bahraich police, who are investigating both the murder and the subsequent violence, have already traced connections between one of the accused and contacts in Nepal.

Furthermore, Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar provided additional information regarding the identities of those arrested. According to Kumar, the arrested individuals include Mohammad Faheen, Mohammad Sarfaraz, and Abdul Hameed, all of whom were named in the FIR. Additionally, two others, Mohammad Taleem alias Sabloo and Mohammad Afzal, were also arrested in connection with the case.

According to the statement provided by Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar, a police team was able to apprehend two suspects, Faheen and Taleem, during their investigation into the Bahraich violence case. Acting on the information provided by these two suspects, the police team then proceeded to the Nanpara area of the district, where they intended to recover the weapon used in the murder. However, the situation took a dangerous turn.

As the police arrived at the location to recover the weapon, they encountered resistance from Hameed, Sarfaraz, and Afzal, who were allegedly waiting in the area. "When the police team went to recover the weapon used in the murder based on the information given by the first two, they opened fire on the police with the weapons kept there," the statement released by the Uttar Pradesh government revealed. In response, the police had no choice but to defend themselves. "Both of them got shot in the retaliatory fire," the statement added, referring to the injuries sustained by Sarfaraz and Talib.

The Uttar Pradesh government further clarified that both of the accused were seriously injured during the exchange of fire and are currently undergoing medical treatment. "The weapon used in the murder has been recovered," the official statement confirmed, marking an important step in the investigation.

In total, five people have now been arrested in connection with the case, which is a significant development in the pursuit of justice. Reiterating the details of the arrests, Bahraich Superintendent of Police Vrinda Shukla told ANI, "5 people have been arrested. Two of them have been injured in police firing. I am here to assess their condition. One of the injured is Md. Sarfaraz, the other is Md. Talib."

A doctor from a local healthcare center shared details about the condition of the two injured suspects brought in after the encounter with the police. "Two people were brought here around 2.35 pm. One of them was named Sarfaraz and the other Taleem. One of them had injuries on his left leg and the other on his right leg," the doctor stated, providing crucial insight into their medical status.

The doctor further explained that the bullets had not yet been removed from their bodies. "The bullets are still inside their bodies. I have referred them to the district hospital in Bahraich for X-ray and further management. Both are in normal condition," he told reporters, confirming that while the injuries were serious, both suspects were stable at the time of the transfer.

Following the incident, political reactions poured in, with UP Congress President Ajay Rai being one of the most vocal critics of the state government's actions. He accused the administration of engaging in what he termed as staged encounters, stating, "The government has been doing fake encounters since ever... They are just trying to cover up their failure." His remarks reflected the dissatisfaction within certain political circles regarding the handling of law enforcement operations in the state.

Congress MP Imran Masood also voiced his concerns, calling for fairness in dealing with all those involved in the violence. "The rioters who burned shops should also be punished. Rioters have no religion. Those who burned an entire market and misbehaved with women should also be treated accordingly," Masood emphasized, stressing the need for justice on all fronts, regardless of the individuals' religious affiliations.

The violence in Bahraich stemmed from a Durga Puja immersion procession, which took a violent turn when loud music was allegedly played outside a place of worship. This led to a clash in the Maharajganj area, located in Mahsi tehsil of Bahraich district, on Sunday. The incident quickly escalated, resulting in the involvement of police and a broader investigation into the riot.

What happened in Bahraich?

The violence in Bahraich erupted on October 13, following the tragic death of 22-year-old Ram Gopal Mishra, who was shot during a Durga idol immersion procession. Mishra was part of a group participating in the event when he was fatally injured by gunfire, sparking immediate chaos in the area.

The violent incident, which claimed the life of Ram Gopal Mishra, led to widespread destruction. In response to his death, angry mobs took to the streets, leading to vandalism and arson. Several properties, including houses, shops, showrooms, hospitals, and vehicles, were set on fire by enraged crowds. The situation escalated quickly, causing significant damage to public and private property in Bahraich.

The post-mortem report of Ram Gopal Mishra provided a detailed account of his injuries. According to Bahraich Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Sanjay Kumar, "25 to 30 pellets" were found inside Mishra's body during the examination. "The report revealed that there were serious injury marks around the left eye and on the toenails," Dr. Kumar added, indicating the severity of the injuries sustained.

The post-mortem report confirmed that Mishra's death was caused by multiple gunshot wounds, with several injuries located on his face, neck, and arms. The findings were distressing, revealing that the authorities recovered 7 pellets from Mishra's body, and the examination showed 40 entry wounds and 2 exit wounds. The report further stated that there were 29 entry wounds on the upper part of the chest extending to the neck, 2 entry wounds on the right upper arm, and 3 entry wounds on the left upper arm. Additionally, the report noted 6 entry wounds on his face and 2 exit wounds in the back of the neck, all of which were marked by blackness around the injuries.

In total, the post-mortem report revealed that 7 pellets were removed from the body of Ram Gopal Mishra. The cause of death was determined to be shock and haemorrhage caused by the gunshots. The detailed findings from the report also indicated that Mishra sustained injuries on 8 different spots across his body, including his feet.

Ram Gopal Mishra’s tragic death left his family in deep anguish, and the details they shared paint a horrific picture of the brutality he suffered. His grieving mother, upon seeing his body, made a heart-wrenching observation, noting that her son’s toenails had been torn off, further highlighting the violence inflicted upon him.

His siblings, Harimilan and Preeti, also spoke out about the murder, providing distressing details about what happened. They confirmed that their brother was brutally murdered by the Islamists during the violence. Harimilan shared his account, saying that Muslims murdered his brother by dragging him into their house. He further expressed his frustration with the authorities, stating that the police remained mute spectators while all this happened. These words reflect the deep pain and anger felt by the family, who not only lost a loved one but also felt abandoned by the very force meant to protect them.

Ram Gopal’s sister, Preeti, provided even more shocking details, describing the gruesome way in which her brother was killed. "They killed my brother like an animal. They sliced his throat and removed his toenails. His entire body had been wounded by gunfire, and his stomach had many knife cuts. They shot him fifteen times," she said, in a heart-breaking recount of the horror her family endured. These words convey the unimaginable grief and suffering that has befallen the Mishra family, who are now left to grapple with the loss of Ram Gopal, a man who was only just beginning a new chapter in his life.

Ram Gopal Mishra had been married just two months before he was killed by Muslim radicals during the Durga idol immersion procession on October 13 in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh. The accused involved in this heinous crime include Abdul Hamid, his two sons Sarfaraz and Faheem, along with Sahir Khan and others, including Talib. The police named them as the primary suspects in the case. On Thursday, October 17, the police shot Sarfaraz and Talib as they attacked officers and attempted to escape to Nepal. Both suspects were shot in their legs and are currently receiving medical treatment.

Meanwhile, there have been serious accusations made against the police who were present at the scene. Eyewitnesses have claimed that the cops acted like mute spectators during the violence, failing to intervene when the Muslim rioters attacked. Instead of protecting the devotees, the police reportedly resorted to lathi-charging the devotees, leaving many feeling abandoned in their time of need. The witnesses described how the police appeared helpless in the face of the Muslim rioters, allowing the situation to spiral out of control.

The stone pelting and firing from the Muslim side delayed the procession, preventing the people from reaching Ram Gopal Mishra in time. By the time they managed to get to him, he was already dead. The violence allegedly began when a group of Muslim youths stood in the street, using the pretext of throwing gulaal (colored powder used in Hindu rituals) to instigate a confrontation. This simple act of throwing gulaal escalated into an all-out attack, with stone pelting and violence following shortly after. The police’s inaction only seemed to embolden the attackers, making the situation even worse.

Following the death of Ram Gopal Mishra, the situation in Bahraich spiraled out of control. Several shops and vehicles were torched by irate mobs, leading to further chaos in the area. The violence, which initially began with the tragic murder of Mishra, quickly spread, causing widespread destruction in its wake.

In response to the escalating violence, the authorities have been actively pursuing those responsible. So far, 55 people have been arrested in 11 separate cases that were filed after the incident. This marks significant progress in the investigation, as the police continue to work towards bringing all those involved to justice.

On Wednesday, the police made a breakthrough when they arrested Danish alias Shaheer Khan, one of the six main suspects named in the murder case. His arrest is seen as a key development in the investigation, as he was directly implicated in the violent events that led to Mishra’s death. The first case related to the incident was officially registered on Sunday night at the Hardi police station, targeting six named and four unidentified people involved in the crime.

The authorities have been thorough in their pursuit of justice, filing a total of 11 cases in connection with the violence. Two cases each were registered on October 13 and October 14, while the remaining seven cases were registered on October 15, reflecting the ongoing investigation into the various aspects of the incident.

For several days, the authorities suspended mobile internet and broadband services in the area in an effort to control the spread of misinformation and prevent further unrest. The internet services were suspended for three days but have since resumed, allowing normal communication to resume in the district.

In their ongoing investigation, authorities have also uncovered a disturbing connection involving Abdul Hamid, who is believed to be the mastermind behind the attack. According to the police, Hamid has a son who resides in Nepal and attends a madrasa close to Fultekra in the Banke area, a place where anti-India and anti-Hindu activities are reportedly taking place. This connection raises concerns about the broader implications of the attack and its links to extremist activities across the border.

The police have already apprehended two of the accused persons, while efforts are still underway to arrest the remaining suspects. The authorities have assured the public that a thorough probe is underway, and all involved in the violence will be held accountable.