The town of Maharajganj and surrounding areas remain tense and uncertain after a violent clash broke out following the death of a 22 year old man identified as Ram Gopal Mishra. Mishra was killed during a Durga idol immersion procession earlier this month while replacing a green flag with a saffron one on the roof of one of the residents.
Soon after the death of Mishra the town Maharajganj and its neighboring areas came on edge for days, witnessing various incidents of arson, vandalism and destruction. Disturbing visuals made rounds on the social media platform narrating the horrific ordeals of the eyewitnesses. The violent clash started when after Mishra’s last rites in Maharajganj thousands of Hindus barged into the town armed with sticks, swords and knives and went on rampage, selectively targeting Muslim properties, ransacking, vandalizing and setting them ablaze.
One entering the town one could see a sea of police spread over the area like ants, with their jeeps placed in every nook and cranny. Barricaded and security points, with tensed air moving to and fro. One moving further one could sense the smell of charred vehicles, trees and properties.
Amid the deserted streets, closed shops and a few abandoned black properties stand the house of Sabit Ali. His house, once nestled among an e-rickshaw, a blanket business, and a cosmetic shop, has now turned into a heap of ashes and burned furniture.
Sabit Ali and his family were attending a local fair when they received word of an attack near their home. Fearing for their belongings, they rushed back to their residence but found themselves too late to secure their possessions.
“Everything was destroyed; nothing was left. All we have are the clothes that we are wearing,” Sabit Ali said, speaking to FoEJ Media.
“There’s nothing left to eat or drink; everything has been burned down,” Ali added
Sabit Ali, along with his wife and daughter-in-law, reported that an enraged mob had destroyed everything they owned, leaving them with nothing.
Sabit Ali’s daughter-in-law owned a cosmetic shop with lipstick, bangles, and gaudy products placed beautifully in it. She reported that the mob did not spare this either.
The interior, once filled with beauty products, is now a scene of destruction, with shelves collapsing and a few semi-burnt products lying on the ground. His daughter showed the semi burnt products, charred counter and ashes of interiors to the FoEJ Media.
“There was stock worth 1 to 1.5 lakh rupees in the shop, all of which was burned down.” Sabit Ali’s daughter in law said while weeping.
Meanwhile, Sabit Ali told FoEJ Media that the mob burnt his e-rickshaw and the blankets kept for his son’s business. As the vibrant colors of blankets faded to a charred, blackened mass, his son’s income also turned into ashes. His son was a blanket trader who used to purchase blankets from the wholesaler and sell them to the retailers.
“Even the blankets we had were burned,” Ali said.
“She was lying on the cot, unable to get up due to her bedridden condition…”
Sabit Ali further reported that their elderly, bedridden mother Sakina (85) was lying on the cot when the mob set it ablaze. Fortunately, they managed to save their mother, but the intense flames from the burning cot left her injured.
“She was lying on the cot, unable to get up due to her bedridden condition, Despite that the cot was set on fire.”
“She suffered minor burns from the flames,” he added.
Another neighbor Suleman (50) and his brother Muzammil (45), both agricultural laborers, reported that the mob consisted of outsiders, with villagers assisting them in identifying Muslim homes, which were then selectively targeted and set ablaze.
“Mob informed them that four Muslim houses were still standing; after that those were also set on fire…”
“The outsiders were leaving when the villagers in the mob informed them that four Muslim houses were still standing, and shortly after, those were also set on fire,” Muzammil said.
He further revealed that the mob looted the jewelry from their home and vandalized everything, resulting in the destruction of all the furniture and belongings inside.
