Bahraich Violence: 87 Riot Suspects Held, Forces Deployed In Sensitive Areas

UP police have detained 26 more rioters in Bahraich, bringing the total arrests to 87 in the communal violence that flared up in the district earlier this week.

The Uttar Pradesh police held 26 more suspected rioters on Friday as it continued its crackdown over communal violence in Bahraich taking the total number of arrests to 87, as per the officials. 

Additionally, all the five named accused in the case were produced before the chief judicial magistrate (CJM) on Friday and remanded to judicial custody for 14 days. 

The Friday prayers were held under tight security arrangements at all mosques across the district, they said, as per a PTI report. All markets in the district resumed their activity by evening, except in Maharajganj, which was the epicentre of violence earlier this week. 

Paramilitary forces remained deployed in sensitive areas and Bahraich district magistrate Monika Rani and superintendent of police Vrinda Shukla patrolled the city, according to Times of India. 

An inter-faith dispute over the playing of loud music outside a place of worship on Sunday in Maharajganj led to the death of one Ram Gopal Mishra (22) of gunshot injuries. 

The incident triggered communal violence, leading to arson and vandalism in the area while the internet services were shut down for four days, during which people largely remained indoors. 

A total of 87 people have been detained from both communities so far, a police official said on Friday. "By Thursday night, police had arrested 61 individuals, including six accused in the killing of Mishra," the official added. 

At least 11 FIRs have been registered from October 13 to October 16 in the district in connection with the killing of Mishra and the ensuing violence in which hundreds of unidentified rioters were booked, as per the officials. 

Cases were registered against around 1,000 people including six named individuals. 

Two police personnel including a station house officer (SHO) and a police outpost in charge were suspended in the wake of the communal violence. Action was also taken against Circle Officer Rupendra Gaur, Tehsildar Ravikant Dwivedi and District Information Officer Ghulam Waris Siddiqui who were removed from their positions. 

Meanwhile, the Public Works Department (PWD) served a notice to Abdul Hameed, one of the accused in the case to remove the "illegal" construction. It carried out inspections and took measurements of 20-25 houses, including that of Hameed.  

Demanding justice for his slain husband, the wife of Ram Gopal said that she would get justice only when the killers were dead.