Postmortem confirms 'shock and excessive bleeding' as cause of death for Bahraich victim
- In Reports
- 11:51 AM, Oct 17, 2024
- Myind Staff
Ram Gopal Mishra, a 22-year-old, was shot dead during a Durga idol immersion procession in Bahraich on October 13, sparking a wave of violence and arson in the district. His death, as revealed by Bahraich Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Sanjay Kumar, was due to "shock and excessive bleeding."
The postmortem report conducted on Sunday night, videographed for documentation, revealed that "25 to 30 pellets" were found on Mishra's body, along with serious injury marks. "There were significant injury marks around the left eye and on the toenails," Dr. Kumar said, noting that a panel of three doctors conducted the autopsy.
In response to the escalating tensions, authorities have made several administrative changes. Additional Director General (ADG) Gorakhpur K.S. Pratap informed reporters that Circle Officer (CO) Rupendra Gaur of Mahsi had been removed from his post for "negligence" related to the incident. He has been replaced by Ravi Khokhar from Rampur. Earlier, the Hardi police station in-charge Suraj Kumar Verma and Mahsi police Chowki in-charge Shiv Kumar Saroj were suspended.
In a series of arrests, police confirmed that Danish alias Shaheer Khan, one of the six accused named in the murder case, was taken into custody on Wednesday. The first case in connection with the incident was filed at the Hardi police station on Sunday night, based on a complaint from the deceased’s family. The case named six individuals, with four others unidentified.
In total, 55 people have been arrested across 11 separate cases registered following the incident. Among these, nine cases were filed by both communities, accusing each other of vandalism and arson. Two cases were registered on October 13, two more on October 14, and seven on October 15. Of the 11 cases, four were filed by the police, while seven were lodged by the public.
The unrest prompted local authorities to suspend mobile internet and broadband services for the third consecutive day, severely impacting businesses. UP Udyog Vyapar Mandal's Bahraich chapter president Gauri Shankar Bhaniramka stated that the suspension has cost businesses in the district "crores" in losses. Despite this, the situation is said to be gradually returning to normal, with no untoward incidents reported since Tuesday, according to local police.
However, tensions remain high in the 20-km radius surrounding Maharajganj town, where communal violence broke out. In light of the district's proximity to the Nepal border, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has heightened vigilance along the international boundary. The 42nd Battalion Commandant Ganga Singh Udawat stated that the force has been instructed by the DIG-IG headquarters to increase border security, especially in the Rupaidiha area. Coordination with Nepal’s Armed Police Force has also been established to monitor the movement of people across the border. Udawat emphasised the need for increased frisking at this time, particularly given the high movement around the Dussehra festival.
A hospital official confirmed that Satyavan Mishra, 45, a physically disabled individual injured during Sunday's violence, has been referred to Lucknow for further treatment after being admitted to the Bahraich Medical College.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is closely monitoring the situation, receiving hourly updates. In a statement on Tuesday night, the UP government confirmed that additional police and administrative officers have been deployed on the ground to restore order. Heavy police presence remains in the district, particularly in areas affected by the violence, as authorities work to maintain peace and prevent further unrest.
Comments