Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said that the Bahraich violence was planned by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the bypolls scheduled for November 13. “Whatever happened in Bahraich was planned by the BJP given the upcoming elections in the state,” Yadav was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. 

The unrest in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich district began following the death of 22-year-old Ram Gopal Mishra, a resident of Rehua Mansoor village, who was shot during a religious procession on October 13. 

The communal violence escalated following an argument over loud music played outside a place of worship in Maharajganj. The incident escalated into communal violence, leading to arson and vandalism in the area and internet suspension for four days.

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At least 11 FIRs were registered in the district in connection with Mishra's killing and the ensuing violence. Earlier, two accused of Bahraich violence identified as Sarfaraz and his friend Talib were shot in the leg by the police during an encounter last week. They were trying to escape to Nepal.

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Following the violence, a station house officer (SHO) and a police outpost in-charge were suspended, while Circle Officer Rupendra Gaur, Tehsildar Ravikant Dwivedi and District Information Officer Ghulam Waris Siddiqui were removed from their positions.