In a dramatic turn of events, two accused in the Bahraich violence case, Sarfaraz alias Rinku and Talib, were shot by the Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday as they attempted to flee across the Nepal border. The police, acting on intelligence about their location, intercepted the pair before they could escape the country, according to UP Special Task Force (STF) chief Amitabh Yash.
The two were shot near the border, and the police have since arrested five more individuals in connection with the case shortly after the incident. “We had received credible information about their presence in the area, and when they tried to flee, we took swift action,” said Yash.
The violence in Bahraich’s Maharajganj erupted on October 13 during a Durga Puja immersion procession. Tensions flared after loud music was allegedly played outside a place of worship, resulting in a violent clash that claimed the life of 22-year-old Ram Gopal Mishra, who died from gunshot injuries.
The incident escalated quickly, leading to widespread chaos as mobs set fire to homes, shops, showrooms, hospitals, and vehicles in retaliation. In response, the police registered multiple FIRs against unidentified rioters and several named suspects, launching a large-scale investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.