Tension and uncertainty grip Maharajganj and nearby areas after a violent clash erupted following the death of 22-year-old Ram Gopal Mishra. Mishra was killed earlier this month during a Durga idol immersion procession while attempting to replace a green flag with a saffron one on a resident’s rooftop.
Following Mishra’s death, Maharajganj and nearby areas were on edge for days, plagued by incidents of arson, vandalism, and destruction. Disturbing footage circulated on social media, capturing the harrowing accounts of eyewitnesses. The violent unrest erupted after Mishra’s last rites, when thousands of Hindus entered the town armed with sticks, swords, and knives, launching a rampage that targeted Muslim-owned properties, ransacking, vandalizing, and setting them ablaze.
Among the sea of survivors, Syed Ali (60) and his son Anwar Ali (25) are among the ones who hit the hardest. The father-son duo hailing from Maharajganj lost their entire savings of years.
Syed Ali, a vegetable vendor, reported that a furious mob armed with swords, knives, sticks, and other heavy weapons stormed in their area, causing widespread destruction and loss.
Sitting on the ground of his burnt house, surrounded by black walls and ashes, Syed Ali and his son Anwar Ali narrated their horrific ordeal.
Anwar Ali reported that an enraged mob stormed into his shop, destroyed his stock of vegetables, and set the shop ablaze. He further disclosed that after burning down the shop, the mob forced their way into his home, vandalized it, and ultimately set it on fire.
“First, they destroyed the shop, poured petrol on it, and set it on fire. Then, they set the house ablaze,” Anwar Ali said, speaking to FoEJ Media.
“Everything in the house was burned—two beds, a wooden cot, and everything else we had,” he added.
On further conversation with the father-son duo, FoEJ Media learned the vegetable business was their main source of income, and they are left with nothing.
“We are very distressed and poor; we have nothing left. What should we do now?” Syed Ali said.
“Our mother was lying at home when the fire broke out, and we rescued her from the flames”
The clash has financially impacted numerous families, with most losing their only source of income. Another clash-ridden survivor, Waseem, a poor ration shop owner who goes by the name Nankau, told FoEJ Media that the mob ransacked and burned his shop.
Nankau hails from the town of Mauja Chandpur and further revealed that her mother was trapped in the house when the mob burned it. He fortunately could protest and rescue her mother.
“Our mother was lying at home when the fire broke out, and we rescued her from the flames,” he said.
The violence in Bahraich and the nearby areas has left deep scars on the community, with families like those of Syed Ali and Anwar Ali bearing the brunt of the destruction. As they grapple with the loss of their livelihoods and homes, the impact of the clashes extends beyond immediate material damage, affecting the emotional and financial stability of countless residents. With their primary sources of income destroyed, many families are left in a state of despair, uncertain about their future. The local community now faces the daunting task of rebuilding not only their homes but also their lives in the aftermath of this tragic event.
