Bahraich remains tense, protesters set fire to bike showroom

Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh continued to be tense as people protesting against the death of a 22-year-old man during Durga Puja celebrations last week set fire to a bike showroom, resulting in losses amounting to lakhs.
The incident occurred on Saturday when Anoop Shukla, the shop owner, had gone for a heart check-up at a prominent hospital in Haryana’s Gurugram. Shukla came to know about the incident during his visit to the hospital. He said that 38 vehicles, mostly bikes, were set on fire in the showroom in Maharajganj area and a loss of Rs 50 lakh was incurred.
“The building belonged to one Mohammad Saeed, but I had taken it on rent. The rioters did not spare my showroom as well. They burnt 34 bikes and four cars in the showroom. A cash drawer having Rs 4 lakh in it was also set on fire. In total, I have suffered a loss of Rs 50 lakh,” he said.
Shukla said he was unsure when he would get his insurance money for the damage caused to his showroom.
“The insurance company will give only Rs 35 lakh. I don’t know when I will get that. I have suffered a lot,” he said.
The incident comes against the backdrop of shopkeepers demolishing their shops following notices issued by the Public Works Department (PWD) to vacate properties due to illegal construction. The PWD had served the notices to 23 establishments, 20 of which belong to Muslim shopkeepers.
This action follows a communal flare-up in the Maharajganj area in Bahraich on October 13, during which a 22-year-old man, Ram Gopal Mishra, was shot dead, triggering tensions in the district.
Mishra died of gunshot injuries after a dispute over loud music being played outside a place of worship in Maharajganj during Durga idol immersion procession. The communal violence that followed saw incidents of arson, vandalism and stone pelting, with internet services suspended for four days before being restored on Thursday.
So far, the Uttar Pradesh Police have arrested 87 people in connection with the Bahraich violence.
Around a dozen FIRs have been registered in the district and hundreds of unidentified rioters have been charged, according to officials. Cases were registered against around 1,000 people, including six named individuals.
On October 17, two main accused, Sarfaraz and Taleem, who were involved in Mishra’s killing during the violence, were shot in an encounter while they were fleeing to Nepal, police said.