Two Bahraich Violence Accused Shot At By Cops While Trying To Flee To Nepal: Police Sources

Two accused in the Bahraich violence case were shot by the Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday while they were allegedly attempting to flee to Nepal. Both the accused have been identified as Sarfaraz alias Rinku, and Mohammed Taleeb.

According to UP Special Task Force (STF) chief Amitabh Yash, the two were shot on the border after the police had received information about their presence in the area.

“Five main suspects have been arrested. Based on information from two of them, the police went to recover the murder weapon that they had hidden near Nanpara. A loaded gun, along with another weapon, was hidden there, which was recovered. In retaliatory firing, two suspects were injured and medical treatment is being provided to them,” Bahraich SP Vrinda Shukla said.

“Sarfaraz and Mohammed Taleeb were shot on the leg. We have referred them to the district hospital for intensive care. We have not taken out the bullets yet,” said a doctor at Nanpara Community Health Centre.

Bahraich Violence

Violence broke out in Bahraich’s Maharajganj on October 13 over the alleged playing of loud music outside a place of worship during a Durga Puja immersion procession, in which Ram Gopal Mishra (22) died of gunshot injuries.

The incident triggered vandalism and arson in the area as houses, shops, showrooms, hospitals and vehicles were torched by mobs, prompting the police to lodge multiple FIRs against unidentified rioters and some named accused.

The police have so far rounded up 55 suspects besides deploying heavy security in the mixed-population town where tension escalated over the playing of the song — “Chahe Jitna Jor Laga Lo, Aayenge Phir Yogi Ji”.

A police officer, on the condition of anonymity, told news agency PTI that raids were conducted at Chandpara and Nakwa villages late on October 16 in search of the main accused, but no arrests were made.

The family members of the deceased have lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against six named and four unknown people.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, religious leaders from both Hindu and Muslim communities, including Mahamandaleshwar Swami Ravi Giri Maharaj, President of Ram Leela Committee Shyamkaran Tekariwal, and Maulana Qari Zubair Ahmad Kasmi, made appeals to people to restore peace and harmony.