In a significant development in the Bahraich violence case, two men, Sarfaraz and Faheem, were shot and wounded during a police encounter as they attempted to escape to Nepal. The encounter took place near the Handa Basehri area, close to the Nepal border. Both men are the sons of Abdul Hameed, the main accused, and have been linked to the murder of Ram Gopal Mishra. Mishra was killed during a violent clash between two communities on October 13, 2024, following a Durga idol immersion procession.

The incident that led to Mishra’s murder occurred in Bahraich’s Mahsi sub-division, where tensions flared as the procession passed through a sensitive area. Mishra allegedly removed a green flag and replaced it with a saffron one on top of a structure, which led to his shooting. The 22-year-old’s death escalated the conflict, leaving several injured, and prompted the police to arrest multiple suspects. So far, police have registered 12 FIRs and arrested 55 individuals related to the violence.

Sarfaraz and Faheem were shot in the legs during the police operation and are receiving treatment at a district hospital. Their father, Abdul Hameed, was taken into custody earlier, amid accusations from his family that the police had wrongfully detained their relatives without disclosing their whereabouts. These allegations of an impending encounter were raised by Hameed’s daughter in a video statement, claiming the family feared for their lives.

In response to the violence, the region experienced an internet blackout for several days, but services were restored on Thursday. The violence and the police action are part of a broader tension between communities in the area, with authorities taking firm steps to control the situation.