Breaking Development in UP's Communal Violence Investigation
In a significant twist to the Bahraich
violence case, BJP MLA Sureshwar Singh has filed an FIR against his own party's
city president and other members for allegedly inciting riots and attempting
murder.
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| BJP MLA Sureshwar Singh 18th Uttar Pradesh Assembly from the Mahasi Assembly constituency of the Bahraich district. |
Introduction
The Bahraich violence case has taken an unexpected
turn with BJP MLA Sureshwar Singh filing a formal complaint against his own
party members, including the city president, accusing them of orchestrating
violence during the Durga idol immersion ceremony. This internal conflict
within the ruling party has raised questions about law enforcement's
impartiality in handling communal tensions.
Background
The violence erupted during the Durga Puja idol
immersion in the Maharajganj area of Bahraich. Tensions flared near a mosque
when disputes regarding the music played during the ceremony escalated. What
began as a disagreement over DJ music rapidly deteriorated into chaos,
resulting in stone-pelting and gunfire. Tragically, this violence led to the
death of Gopal Mishra. Eyewitness accounts suggest that police were allegedly
passive during the events, failing to take appropriate measures to control the
situation, which further fueled anger and frustration among the local
community.
Details of the New FIR
In his FIR, MLA Sureshwar Singh has accused several individuals of
serious offenses. Notably, the FIR includes:
- Named
Accused: The complaint names BJP City President Arpit Srivastava, along with other party workers, highlighting the intra-party
conflict.
- Charges:
The allegations include rioting, attempted murder, and assault with deadly
weapons, indicating the severity of the situation.
- Incident
Description: According to the MLA, the incident occurred
while he was attempting to maintain peace during protests following Gopal
Mishra's death. The accused allegedly attacked Singh's convoy with stones
and even fired shots at them.
- Close
Call: Singh’s son reportedly narrowly escaped
injury during the violent incident, underscoring the direct threat posed
by the attackers.
Police Response
The response from law enforcement has raised eyebrows and led to
accusations of selective policing:
- FIR
Registration: Although the police registered the FIR,
there have been no arrests made of the BJP city president or the other
accused individuals.
- Demolition
Notices: In a controversial move, earlier notices
were issued to 23 families, predominantly from minority communities,
threatening demolition of their homes in response to the violence.
- Judicial
Intervention: The Allahabad High Court has intervened,
staying the demolition notices for a period of 15 days, providing
temporary relief to the affected families.
- Transfers
of Police Officials: In light of the
growing criticism, several police officials, including Assistant
Commissioners of Police (ACPs), have been transferred, suggesting an
administrative attempt to address public outcry
Legal Implications
The case has been registered under serious
sections including:
·
Inciting riots
·
Attempt to murder
·
Assault with deadly weapons
·
Endangering personal safety
·
Criminal intimidation
Political Ramifications
This internal BJP conflict has created several
complications:
·
Questions about selective law enforcement
·
Challenges to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's
"equal law for all" stance
·
Tensions within the BJP's local unit
·
Debate over handling of communal situations
Current Status
While the administration has taken action against
police officials and issued notices to some residents:
·
No arrests have been made of BJP leaders named
in the FIR
·
The case has been documented on CCTV footage
·
Investigation continues under political pressure
·
The High Court's stay on demolition notices
remains in effect