Dispair looms for Muslims in UP’s Bahraich after trail of ‘punishment’ : Valley Vision

Despair looms over Muslims in and around Maharajganj, a town on the outskirts of Bahraich district in Uttar Pradesh after the Hindutva mob took their “revenge” for the murder of a man who was killed during the unruly procession on October 13.

A 22-year-old man was shot dead moments after he was seen on the rooftop of a Muslim house, vandalising the property and removing the green flag to wave the saffron one in front of a cheering mob. He was part of a  Durga idol immersion procession that played loud Islamophobic songs in front of a mosque on the main street.

Objections from Muslims led to hostilities, eye witness told Maktoob. Hindu and Muslim community leaders in Maharajganj claim all members of the violent mob were from outside the town. Even Ram Gopal Mishra, who died of bullet wounds, wasn’t from the town.

The fatal escalation led to mob violence against Muslim properties that evening and the next day despite police presence. Several Muslims were beaten and detained in midnight raids by police, searching for the accused in the murder.

Police slapped women, dragged out men and detained even minors and disabled, according to testimonies shared with Maktoob.

On 16 October, four accused in Ram Gopal’s murder surrendered. But only one arrest was acknowledged by the police, leading to speculations of staging a fake encounter — a demand by right-wing on social media.

The next day, two accused sustained bullet injuries from police firing in an alleged attempt to flee from custody. Activists and opposition leaders have slammed the incident as a “fake encounter” attempt — a reoccurring issue in the BJP-ruled state.

Later, on 18 October, a backdated demolition notice was given to 23 properties — 20 of them to Muslims. The affected people said the notice was arbitrary and blamed it for punitive action by the state to quash the anger of right-wing extremists. Even though not a stay, Allahabad High Court has given the people 15 days of relief to respond to the notice.

No compensation has been declared for the people who lost livelihoods and houses in the violence. A total of 14 FIRs have been registered in connection with the violence. To date, over 80 persons have been arrested.

The police also arrested two men who purportedly claimed in a video that the recent violence in Bahraich was “sponsored” and admitted to being involved in it. The move comes a day after Bahraich Superintendent of Police Vrinda Shukla rubbished the claims made in the video, which surfaced online, as “rambling of drunk men.”

The police identified the two arrested persons as Prem Kumar and Saburi Mishra, both residents of Rampura village which is near Maharajganj.