Bahraich violence: Restless crowds on roads, shops and vehicles torched

Restless crowds some people armed with sticks and iron rods roamed the streets and shops were set on fire as tension escalated in Bahraich on Monday a day after a 22yearold man was killed in communal violence during a Durga idol immersion processionPolice have booked a man and detained around 30 people in connection with the unrest that broke out in the Mahrajganj area of Mansoor village when a Durga idol immersion procession passed through on Sunday Around half a dozen people were injured in stone pelting and firingThere were protests at several places and slogans raised against police and administrative officials even as police forces conducted flag marches in the area Black smoke billowed into the sky from some shops houses and vehicles set ablazeOfficials said Home Secretary Sanjeev Gupta and Additional Director General of Police Law and Order Amitabh Yash have reached the spot to take stock of the situationThe situation is being brought under control and antisocial elements are being chased away Superintendent of Police SP of Bahraich Vrinda Shukla told PTI VideosReacting to the violence Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya posted on X Any conspiracy to disturb the peace and harmony of Uttar Pradesh will not be unsuccessful Those who protect the rioters are once again becoming active but we have to be cautious and vigilant The bright future of the state will not be allowed to be tampered with he said in HindiMaurya asserted that the culprits would be given strict punishment and victims would get complete justice I appeal to all citizens to maintain peace and patience he postedSenior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said in a post on X in Hindi The news of violence in Bahraich Uttar Pradesh and the inaction of the administration are 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 humble appeal to the public please do not take the law into your own hands she addedEarlier in the day Shukla said 25 to 30 people had been detained and efforts were on to bring normalcy in the affected areasShe added that an adequate police force has been deployedAll anarchist elements will be identified Shukla said adding that stringent action would be taken against themThe SP said a case has been registered against a person identified as Salman Gunshots were fired from his house which also functions as a shop according to policeIdentities of those involved in the incident are being ascertained and some suspects have been detained she saidDistrict Magistrate of Bahraich Monika Rani said there was a dispute during the idol immersion The situation deteriorated after a person was shot she said and added that in view of the incident idol immersion was stopped at many placesBJP MLA from Mahsi Sureshwar Singh told PTI We are moving ahead with the last rites of the deceased person Barely four months ago he got married The family members of the deceased demand that cases should be registered against those responsible and action should be initiated against them The SHO and the incharge of the police outpost should be suspended Sundays violence was triggered by a disagreement over music being blasted out from loudspeakers while the procession was passing through the areaRam Gopal Mishra of Rehua Mansoor village was walking in the procession when he suffered a bullet wound He was rushed to a hospital where he died during treatment one of his family members saidThe area was fraught with communal tension after the killing Similar processions were cancelled in Fakharpur town and some other placesChief Minister Yogi Adityanath has denounced the violence and directed the administration to communicate with religious organisations and get the idol immersions done on timeHe also directed police to deploy personnel at the immersion sitesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever