Earlier on Thursday, Uttar Pradesh Police shot two suspects in the Bahraich violence case. The accused, identified as Sarfaraz and Talib, were allegedly attempting to flee to Nepal.
Speaking on the developments, Uttar Pradesh DGP Prashant Kumar said, “When the police were taking the five arrested suspects for weapon recovery near the India-Nepal border, two tried to escape. Shots were fired, and both Mohammed Sarfaraz and Mohammed Talib were injured. The other three, Abdul Hameed, Fahim, and Abdul Afzal, were arrested. A total of five suspects were apprehended.”
Bahraich SP Vrinda Shukla told news agency ANI, “Five people have been arrested. Two were injured in police firing. One of the injured is Md. Sarfaraz, the other is Md. Talib.”
Murder suspects apprehended by UP STF
According to a PTI report, five suspects involved in the Bahraich violence were arrested on Thursday following an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Police, during which two suspects sustained gunshot wounds, a senior official said. Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash confirmed the arrests, adding, “There was an exchange of fire, and two suspects were injured.”The violence erupted on Sunday in Maharajganj, Mahsi tehsil of Bahraich district, allegedly over loud music being played during a Durga Puja immersion procession near a place of worship. Ram Gopal Mishra, 22, a participant in the procession, died from gunshot wounds during the clash.Following the incident, widespread vandalism and arson took place in the area, with mobs setting fire to several houses, shops, showrooms, hospitals, and vehicles.
According to an NBT report, Rukhsar, the daughter of Abdul Hameed, a local landlord, claimed that her father and two brothers, Sarfaraz and Faheem, were detained by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP STF), along with another unidentified youth. She also alleged that her husband and brother-in-law had been previously taken into custody, with no further updates from the police on their whereabouts.
“Yesterday at 4 o’clock, my father Abdul Hameed, my two brothers Sarfaraz and Faheem, and another youth were picked up by the UP STF. We have received no information about them from any police station,” NBT quoted Rukhsar as saying.
District returns to calm after unrest
After the riots on Sunday, the district witnessed significant unrest. However, peace was restored by Tuesday and Wednesday. Internet services, which were suspended due to the violence, were resumed in the Maharajganj area on Thursday.
