“बहुत है ज़ुल्म के दस्त-ए-बहाना-जू के लिए, जो चंद अहल-ए-जुनूँ तेरे नाम-लेवा हैं बने हैं अहल-ए-हवस मुद्दई भी मुंसिफ़ भी, किसे वकील करें किस से मुंसिफ़ी चाहें” फ़ैज़ अहमद फ़ैज़
On October 13, 2024, a violent clash broke out in Siswa Maharajgunj, a small town in eastern Uttar Pradesh near the Nepal border, resulting in the death of 22-year-old Ram Gopal Mishra. Mishra was part of a mob playing provocative songs outside the Maharajgung Masjid when he climbed onto the roof of 62-year-old jeweler Abdul Hameed’s house to forcibly remove a green Islamic flag, replacing it with a saffron one. Witnesses reported that he was shot during the confrontation and later confirmed dead by local authorities.
In the wake of Mishra’s death, sensationalized reports emerged from several media outlets, claiming he had suffered brutal torture, including electrocution. This misinformation fueled anger among Hindutva supporters, leading to widespread violence. The following day, thousands of rioters looted, vandalized, and set fire to more than 50 Muslim homes and businesses in the area.
I traveled to Bahraich on October 18 to document the aftermath of this violence, speaking with 32 affected families over a two-day period. This photo story chronicles their experiences and the impact of the recent unrest on their lives.
The entry to the Siswa- Maharajgunj area through Rampurva Chauraha
Heavy Police presence outside the house where Ram Gopal was shot deadThe house where Gopal was shotThe house where Gopal was shotBarricades ouside the Maharajgunj areaKaleem with his kids, the mob torched his entire house after looting and vandalismKaleem’s HouseKaleem showing how a stone that was pelted by the mob hit his little sonSomeone from the mob tried to throw Kaleem’s 6 yrs old daughter Shifa onto the burning pile of vehicle and house belongingsKaleem’s FamilyEvery time Kaleem recalls the horror, he couldn’t control his tearsA burnt portion of Kaleem’s HouseWith Kaleem’s KidsThe mob looted & Burnt Sufiya’s HouseWhile Sufiya was hiding in a nearby field, she heard the crowd talking about raping of women Mohammad Ali’s* House was looted and burnt tooWe tried to talk to people coming out of the Mosque after Friday Prayers.We tried to talk to people coming out of the Mosque after Friday Prayers.We tried to talk to people coming out of the Mosque after Friday Prayers.Locals took us to the houses that were looted , vandalised and burnt by the mobShahzad’s E-Rikshaw was vandalised and his house was looted by the Hindutva mobShahzad’s E-RikshawThe crowd tried to burn Amanat’s auto but somehow failedAasma’s small kiosk and her house was looted and vandalisedAasma’s KioskThe crowd assaulted Ahmad* who is deaf, it caused injury to his handsTravelling through narrow lanes of MaharajgunjAn unidentified charred vehicle at the back of the house where Gopal was shotRemains of an unidentified charred vehicle at the back of the house where Gopal was shotAn unidentified charred vehicle at the back of the house where Gopal was shotRafiq, a physically challeged person from the locality lost his E-Rikshaw in the fireThe Charred remains of Rafique’s RikshawWaseem’s house & his small Grocery shop at Mauja Chandpara , some 3 Kms from violence centre, was looted & burntWaseem’s house & his small Grocery shop at Mauja Chandpara , some 3 Kms from violence centre, was looted & burntWaseem’s FamilyWaseem narrating his ordealAnwar Ali ‘s house and vegetable shop at Mauja Chandpura was looted and completely burntAnwar’s kids helping his father in cleaning the shopAnwar’s KidsAnwar’s wife and his father Syed AliAnwar’s burnt shopSabit Ali’s E-Rikshaw & his entire house was burnt by the riotersSabit’s burnt belongings at Dandhe Purva in MaharajgunjSabit Ali outside his house in Dandhe Purva , some 5 kms away from the violence centerSabit’s wife & daughter-in -law Shahida narrating their ordealThe crowd looted & burnt Shahida’s cosmetic shopSabit’s son used to do blanket business, his entire blanket stock was looted and burnt to ashesNoting the family details and mapping the lossesNoting the family details and mapping the lossesThe crowd tried to burn Sabit’s 85 years old ailing motherThe mob looted and burnt Aneesa’s House, Sabit’s neighbourAhmad’s* son, 25 yrs old Nafees was detained by the policeThings have been difficult for Ahmad* in absence of his son. Ahmad’s* son, 25 yrs old Nafees was detained by the policeThe mob looted Sakina’s goat, the mother of 3 kids. In her absence, Sakina is feeding the weeks old babiesThe kids whose mother goat was looted by the mobThe crowd looted and burnt Ramzan Ali’s houseRamzan’s HouseRamzan Ali
An alumnus of IIT Delhi & Environmental Engineer by profession, Aasif Mujtaba is Founder & CEO of Miles2Smile Foundation. The prime working area of the organization is relief & rehabilitation of distressed individuals or groups and educational upliftment of the marginalized and underprivileged.
