Lucknow: A distressing scenario has unfolded in Bahraich district, Uttar Pradesh. In Naushera village, located in the district's Baundi area, a bereaved family finds itself further victimized. Mahadev Mishra, a local, reports a horrifying sequence of events where his son was murdered and subsequently, his grandson was kidnapped and killed. Contrary to the family's expectations for justice, the local police responded by charging them under two SC-ST Act cases. Neopolityco conducted an interview with the grieving family to delve deeper into the incident.

Dalits Murdered His Son

Mahadev Mishra recounted the tragic events of December 13, stating, "Half a dozen individuals from the Dalit community violently took the life of my son, Ashish Mishra." In pursuit of justice, he lodged a named First Information Report (FIR) against four suspects at the nearby police station. Despite the clear identification of the culprits, their arrest was delayed. It took two months of mounting pressure for the police to apprehend two of the accused, known as Barsati and Bhim. The remaining two suspects are still at large. Amid these arrests, an unexpected twist occurred: the police lodged a complaint under the Atrocity Act against Mahadev Mishra himself, based on a grievance filed by the accused's family.

Accused Kidnapped the Deceased's Son

In a troubling turn of events on March 19, Dhananjay Mishra, the 18-year-old son of the deceased Ashish Mishra, was forcibly taken by unknown individuals. His father, Mahadev Mishra, expressed deep concern, stating, "We still have no clue about Dhananjay's whereabouts." Despite a month having passed since Dhananjay's mysterious disappearance, the local police have yet to uncover any substantial leads on his location. However, this incident seemed to have accelerated legal actions against the other involved parties, as the remaining two suspects were apprehended by authorities on April 3.

Second SC-ST Act Case Filed Against the Victim's Family on April 8

The tensions in Naushera village continue to rise. Notably, influential members from the Bhim Army previously visited the area to meet with Mahadev Mishra and his family. More recently, on a Friday earlier this month, representatives from the Brahmin community also made their way to the village. During their visit, they accused the local police of biased enforcement and lack of proper investigation.

Following these community visits, a significant gathering occurred. Hundreds of members from the Parshuram Sewa Sansthan converged at the Mishra residence in Naushera, under the jurisdiction of the Baundi police station. This gathering was spurred by an ongoing dispute Mahadev Mishra had with some local villagers, which had reportedly been exacerbated by administrative neglect. High-profile figures like Mahendranath Tiwari, the state president, and Sarvesh Pandey, chief of the Savarn Army, were also present. They engaged with high-ranking officials, pushing for a resolution to the injustices faced by the Mishra family. Both leaders made it clear they sought a peaceful resolution within the bounds of the law and constitution, but did not shy away from warning that they would escalate their actions if justice remained elusive.

Brahmin Community Protests Alleged Bias in Police Actions

The Brahmin community of Naushera village recently staged a protest to voice their concerns over the handling of the Mishra family's case. They claim that CO Mahsi, Anil Kumar Singh, was coerced into filing the case against the victim’s family under significant pressure from members of the Bhim Army. The protesters have strongly requested that CO Kaiserganj, Rupendra Gaur, take over the investigation to ensure impartiality and fairness. During this protest, a substantial turnout of community members underscored the depth of local unrest and dissatisfaction with the current investigative process.

As the search for Dhananjay Mishra continues with no success, another distressing development has occurred. According to Mahadev Mishra, there has been a malicious attack on his property amidst this turmoil. "The accused set fire to his own vacant hut and then proceeded to file a case against me under the SC-ST Act," he reported. This latest legal challenge adds to the already grave situation faced by the Mishra family. Following this incident, Mahadev expressed a growing concern for the safety and freedom of his family, fearing that this new case might lead to their wrongful imprisonment. This fear looms large over the Mishra family, further complicating their struggle for justice amidst their profound grief.

In December last year, the young son Ashish Mishra was injured in the fight and died during treatment, causing tension in the village

In the Baundi area of Bahraich, a tragic incident unfolded about five months ago following a heated altercation related to a land dispute in the village of Naushera. The conflict left Ashish Mishra severely injured. Due to the seriousness of his injuries, he was urgently referred to the Lucknow Trauma Center for advanced medical treatment. Unfortunately, despite the efforts of the medical team, Ashish succumbed to his injuries and died on a Monday during treatment. The news of his death brought a palpable tension to the village atmosphere, prompting an immediate response from local law enforcement.

Upon hearing of the unfortunate demise of Ashish Mishra, the village atmosphere grew increasingly tense. In response to the escalating situation, authorities from four different police stations were called in to manage and monitor the situation closely. The Superintendent of Police (SP) also made a personal visit to the scene, issuing strict directives to ensure that appropriate measures were taken swiftly.

The root of this tragic event traces back to a simmering land dispute between two factions within the village, specifically between Sumiran and Mahadev Prasad Mishra. Approximately six days prior to the fatal incident, tensions between these two parties escalated into a physical confrontation involving sticks, clubs, and stones. During this violent clash, Ashish Mishra, the 40-year-old son of Mahadev Prasad Mishra, sustained critical injuries.

Initially, Ashish was rushed to the Bahraich Medical College in an attempt to save his life. However, given his critical state, he was quickly transferred to the Lucknow Trauma Center for specialized care. Despite these efforts, Ashish passed away, leaving his family and the village in deep mourning. The incident not only devastated his family but also led to significant unrest within the community. In response, a large number of villagers gathered at the deceased's home. Recognizing the severity of the situation, SP Prashant Verma and CO Kaiserganj Kamlesh Singh visited the village alongside police forces. They met with the grieving family, offering condolences and assurances of thorough investigation and justice.

Allegations of negligence against the police

In the wake of Ashish Mishra's death, the community in the village of Naushera was engulfed by tension and grief, sparking widespread allegations of negligence against the Baundi police force. Villagers circulated rumors indicating that there had been previous disputes between the two parties involved in the tragic incident. Despite Ashish being critically injured and subsequently referred to the Lucknow Trauma Center, the police were slow to act against the opposing parties involved in the dispute. It was only two days ago that one of the opponents was arrested, while the main accused, Sumiran—who also serves as the village ration distributor—remained free, visibly roaming around the village.

Given the continuing tension resulting from this conflict, a significant law enforcement presence was deemed necessary. Manoj Pandey, the City Inspector; Dilip Shukla, the Hujoorpur Police Inspector; Anuj Tripathi, the Fakharpur Police Inspector; and Anjani Kumar Rai, the Baundi Police Inspector, along with a substantial contingent of police officers, were dispatched to the scene. At the time of reporting, these officers, along with their teams, maintained a strong presence in the area to prevent any further escalation of the situation.

The root of the dispute lies in a contentious issue of land occupation. Villagers recounted that around 23 years ago, the family home and farmland of Mahadev Mishra—Ashish's father—were submerged by the Ghaghara River. In the aftermath, Mahadev's son's mother-in-law, named Parvati, helped resettle the Mishra family in Naushera village by providing them with new land. According to Mahadev, there was an agreement where Parvati sold one bigha of land to Sumiran. However, Sumiran subsequently took possession of more land than had been agreed upon, leading to ongoing tensions between the two parties. This long-standing dispute flared up on December 6, culminating in a violent altercation, and the tensions resurfaced shortly thereafter, continuing to disrupt village harmony.

Support from the Savarna Army

In a significant show of solidarity, Sarvesh Pandey, the national president of the Savarna Army, recently visited the bereaved Mishra family in Naushera village. During his visit, he extended a heartfelt promise of support, committing to assist the family in their quest for justice in any way possible. Recognizing the severity of the situation, Pandey took to social media to raise awareness. He shared images and videos from the visit along with a poignant message: "Mahadev Mishra's son from Naushera village, Baundi (Bahraich), was murdered a few days ago, followed by the disappearance of Mishra's grandson. Then, the opposition set Mishra's hut on fire and, under pressure from the Bhim Army, accused Mishra of arson and had an SC/ST Act case filed against him. These incidents and cases distressed Mishra to the point where he even spoke about suicide. When we became aware of this incident, I, along with Mahendranath Tiwari, the president of Parshuram Seva Sansthan, and our entire team, met with Mishra's family. We also spoke with the local station house officer and the SP of Bahraich over the phone. The Bahraich SP assured us that Mishra would not be subjected to any injustice and would receive justice. We are prepared to organize protests if Mishra does not receive justice within a specified period."

This gesture by Pandey and his team highlights their commitment to upholding justice and supporting those in distress. The message clearly outlines the sequence of tragic events that have compounded the Mishra family’s suffering, from the murder and disappearance to the wrongful accusations and threats of legal action against them. In their conversation with local law enforcement, including the station house officer and the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Bahraich, assurances were given to the Mishra family. The officials promised that the family would not face injustice and that their grievances would be addressed promptly. With the potential for organized protests, Pandey emphasized the urgency and importance of delivering justice to Mahadev Mishra and his family, underlining the readiness of the Savarna Army to take action should the need arise.