Yesterday, it was #Kanhaiyalal, today it is #Gopal, tomorrow, it could be YOU targeted by the Jehadis! But Hindus never learn that. #BahraichRiots #Gopal_Mishra #JusticeForGopalMishra pic.twitter.com/uVcRtmBWP9
— Shefali Vaidya. 🇮🇳 (@ShefVaidya) October 15, 2024
Clash Escalates into Violence
The incident began when a group of Muslims objected to the DJ music accompanying the Hindu procession in Rehua Mansoor village. Tensions rose quickly as arguments flared. Within minutes, the situation spiraled into a violent clash, with Muslims pelting stones at the procession. More people from the Muslim community gathered, fueling the violence.
During the chaos, Ram Gopal Mishra climbed onto the roof of Abdul Hamid’s house. He replaced a green flag with a saffron one while chanting slogans like “Jai Maa Durga” and “Jai Hanuman.” Amidst the turmoil, someone opened fire, hitting Mishra at close range. His companions rushed him to Bahraich Medical College, but doctors could not save him.
Brutal Torture and Murder
After shooting Mishra, the attackers dragged him into a house. There, they tortured him with horrifying cruelty. They used pliers to remove his nails, slashed his throat with a knife, and fired more than 15 bullets into his body. Even after killing him, the mob continued pelting stones at his lifeless body, displaying intense hatred towards the Hindu community.
Bahraich Survivor Speaks Out
With #GopalMishra in #Bahraich Sudhakar Tiwari was also attacked. Watch this video as he tells, “People from Mosque attacked us….”
Video: @Shubham_fd pic.twitter.com/F0mt89iCgL
— Subhi Vishwakarma (@subhi_karma) October 16, 2024
Sudhakar Tiwari, who accompanied Mishra during the attack, survived the assault but suffered severe head injuries. Tiwari, now recovering in a local hospital, confirmed the attack. “People from the mosque attacked us,” he said in a video shared by journalist Shubham Sharma of NeoPolitico. Tiwari explained that he lost consciousness after the mob struck him. The police eventually arrived and transported him to the hospital.
A Family’s Devastating Loss
Ram Gopal Mishra’s murder plunged his family into deep sorrow. The youngest of three brothers, Mishra had recently married two months before the attack. His sister, Preeti, traveled from Lucknow as soon as she heard the news, grieving for her lost brother. “They killed my brother like an animal,” she said. “They sliced his throat, removed his toenails, and shot him fifteen times.”
Mishra’s brother, Harimilan, expressed outrage over the police’s handling of the situation. He accused them of failing to protect the procession and claimed that their lathi charge caused a stampede, giving the attackers an opportunity to strike. Harimilan also criticized the police for not helping retrieve Mishra’s body, forcing local Hindu youths to risk their lives under gunfire and stone-pelting to recover it.
The Aftermath in Bahraich
Mishra’s family cremated him after a prolonged argument with local authorities. His brother only agreed after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Sureshwar Singh offered assurances. Journalist Shubham Sharma visited the family’s home and revealed their dire financial situation. Mishra and his wife lived in a small, unfinished room with no proper walls or roof. With his death, the family now faces an uncertain future without their last surviving son and breadwinner.
Community in Grief
The attack has left the Hindu community in Bahraich reeling. Sudhakar Tiwari continues to recover, but the brutal murder of Ram Gopal Mishra casts a dark shadow over the region. Anger and fear are growing as people demand justice for Mishra and question the safety of their community.