Days after 22-year-old Gopal Mishra was killed during communal clashes in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, two out of five suspects in his murder were injured during a police encounter on Thursday. The incident occurred near the Nanpara Police Station area when the accused, identified as Sarfaraz and Taleem, allegedly attempted to escape custody.
The Quint quoted Vrinda Shukla, Bahraich SP, as saying, “Five accused were arrested for their alleged involvement in the killing of Gopal Mishra. Two of them, namely Sarfaraz and Taleem, were trying to escape the police near Nanpara Police Station area. Both of them were shot in the leg during an encounter with the police.”
The two suspects were immediately taken to a civil hospital in Bahraich, where they are undergoing treatment. The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) confirmed that both Sarfaraz and Taleem sustained leg injuries but are currently in stable condition.
The Killing of Gopal Mishra
The violence in Bahraich erupted on October 13, during a Durga idol immersion procession. According to police officials, the clash began after some members of the Muslim community objected to the music being played during the procession. Reports suggest that the conflict intensified after Gopal Mishra, one of the participants, removed a green flag from a building and replaced it with a saffron flag, an act caught on video and widely circulated on social media.
The escalation resulted in the tragic death of Mishra, who was shot during the altercation. The incident has since sparked unrest in the area, leading to multiple arrests and the suspension of mobile internet and broadband services for three days to prevent the spread of inflammatory content.
Arrests and Ongoing Investigation
To date, a total of 55 people have been arrested across 11 separate cases linked to the communal violence. Authorities continue their investigation into the incident, with further arrests expected as the situation remains tense.
Mobile and internet services have been restored, but law enforcement has urged the public to avoid sharing unverified information that could exacerbate communal tensions in the region.
