All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi criticized Uttar Pradesh police over the Bahraich encounter and questioned the actions taken by the police. He also cited the "Thok Denge" policy of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. This comes after the accused in the Bahraich incident, Sarfaraz and Mohammad Talib, were shot in the leg by the Uttar Pradesh Police while allegedly attempting to flee to Nepal.

"It is not difficult to know the truth about the "encounter" of the accused of Bahraich violence by the police. Everyone knows about Yogi's "Thok Denge" policy. If the police had so much evidence, then efforts would have been made to get the accused punished legally," the AIMIM chief posted on X.

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said that the law and order in Uttar Pradesh have collapsed, adding that there is a growing list of fake encounters in the state. 

"Law and order have collapsed in Uttar Pradesh... There is a list of fake encounters in the state. In a state where the ADG Law and Order has to walk around carrying a weapon even 48 hours after riots, it shows that law and order have completely failed. We have been appealing for peace to be restored in UP," Supriya Shrinate told ANI.

Out of the first arrested in connection with the violence in Bahraich, two were injured during an encounter, while the remaining three were taken into custody, according to Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar, who also stated that the situation is now under control.

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The two accused, Sarfaraz and Mohammad Talib, were shot in the leg by Uttar Pradesh Police while attempting to flee to Nepal, the police confirmed.

"When the police were taking the five arrested accused for weapons recovery near the India-Nepal border, Sarfaraz and Talib tried to escape. Shots were fired as they fled, resulting in their injuries. Abdul Hameed, Fahim, and Abdul Afzal were also arrested. A total of five accused are now in custody, and the situation is under control," DGP Kumar explained.

Earlier, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav termed communal violence in Bahraich district a failure of the Yogi Adityanath government and the local administration. The former UP chief minister also wondered why there was "no police security" when "such a big event" was being organised.

In Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich, violence broke out at Maharajganj in the Mahsi tehsil over loud music being played outside a place of worship during a Durga Puja immersion procession. Ram Gopal Mishra, 22, part of the passing group, died of a gunshot wound in the ensuing violence.

The incident led to vandalism and arson in the area, with angry mobs torching several houses, shops, showrooms, hospitals, and vehicles.

"This is the failure of the Bahraich administration and the government. They talk about zero tolerance and conducting every event very peacefully. So why was there no police security when such a big event was being organised?" Yadav asked, speaking to reporters in Lucknow.

"Was the administration not aware of how and what was happening there?" he added.

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Yadav alleged that the state BJP government knew the reasons behind the violence and going after the small fish would not help it.

"The government knows the reason for the violence. Taking action against junior officials won't help. The administration should have been alert while the procession was being taken out," he posted on X.

(With input from agencies)