Five suspects in the Bahraich violence case were arrested on Thursday following an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh police, during which two of them suffered gunshot injuries, confirmed Superintendent of Police Bahraich, Vrinda Shukla.
"Five people have been arrested. Two of them have been injured in police firing. I am here to assess their condition. One of the injured is Md. Sarfaraz, the other is Md. Talib," Shukla said.
The encounter occurred when the police team went to the Nanpara area to recover the murder weapon. "Md Sarfaraz and Md Talib had kept the weapon in a loaded state and used it to fire on the police. In self-defence, police retaliated, injuring the two. They are alive and receiving medical care," Shukla said. She confirmed that the other three suspects have also been arrested and assured all the accused arrested so far would be slapped with charges under the National Security Act (NSA) and other legal actions would be initiated.
The accused were allegedly trying to flee to Nepal, which shares a border with Bahraich district in Uttar Pradesh, the officer said.
"Five accused have been arrested," Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash told a news channel.
On the encounter, he said, "I have information of exchange of fire and gunshot injuries." Yash said the Bahraich police, investigating the murder and subsequent violence, has already established the link of one of the accused in Nepal.
Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar said those arrested have been identified as Mohammad Faheen, Mohammad Sarfaraz and Abdul Hameed, who are named accused in the FIR -- and two others Mohammad Taleem alias Sabloo and Mohammad Afzal.
According to Kumar, a police team arrested Faheen and Taleem.
Acting on the information given by the duo, the team went to recover the weapon used in the murder in the Nanpara area of the district, however, it came under fire from Hameed, Sarfaraz and Afzal.
A doctor at a local health care centre said, "Two people were brought here around 2.35 pm. One of them was named Sarfaraz and the other Taleem. One of them had injuries on his left leg and the other on his right leg."
"The bullets are still inside their bodies. I have referred them to the district hospital in Bahraich for X-ray and further management. Both are in normal condition," he told reporters
Meanwhile, the post-mortem report of the deceased, Ram Gopal Mishra, indicated that he had suffered 30 plus pellet injuries caused by a fire apparently from a 12-bore gun.
Police said the autopsy report failed to find any sharp edge injury marks on his body and there was no evidence of him being electrocuted or his nails being removed as was being stated by various misleading reports on social media.
Reacting to the encounter, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the Yogi Adityanath-led government was conducting encounters to cover up its failure.
“This communal violence in Bahraich was an administrative failure. The government is doing encounters to cover up its failure. If encounters had been improving the law and order of the state, UP would have been way ahead of most states. If permission had been taken for the procession, why couldn’t the administration help carrying it out peacefully? If they cannot handle such a small event, how can one expect them to safeguard law and order in the state?” Akhilesh Yadav said while interacting with media persons on Thursday.
He added, "What happened was unfortunate and such incidents should not happen. We will stand with the families of the victims and ensure they get justice. The government is working on the policy of divide and rule. This incident has not just happened, it was planned."
The Congress also called the encounter in Bahraich “fake” and UP Congress President Ajay Rai criticised the state government, stating, "The government has been doing fake encounters since ever... They are just trying to cover up their failure."
Congress MP Imran Masood also weighed in, calling for equal justice for all involved in the violence. "The rioters who burned shops should also be punished. Rioters have no religion. Those who burned an entire market and misbehaved with women should also be treated accordingly," Masood said.
"Law and order has collapsed in Uttar Pradesh. There is a list of fake encounters in the state. I think in a state where the ADG Law & Order has to walk carrying a weapon even 48 hours after riots, it means that law and order have collapsed there. We have been appealing to restore peace in UP," said Congress spokespersons Supriya Srinate.
Violence broke out at Maharajganj in the Mahsi tehsil of Bahraich district on Sunday allegedly over loud music being played outside a place of worship during a Durga Puja immersion procession.
Ram Gopal Mishra, 22, part of the passing group, died of gunshot wounds in the ensuing violence.
The incident triggered vandalism and arson in the area with angry mobs torching several houses, shops, showrooms, hospitals and vehicles.
(With inputs from Namita Bajpai, PTI, ANI)