A horrifying incident occurred on Sunday, 13 October 2024, in the Rehua Mansoor village, Hardi police station area in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, where a 22-year-old Hindu man, Ram Gopal Mishra, lost his life following a communal clash during a Durga Visarjan procession. The deceased, Ram Gopal Mishra, was shot 20 times amidst the violent altercation that reportedly began over objections from local Muslims to DJ music being played during the immersion of a Durga idol.
The conflict escalated rapidly as stone-pelting ensued, with allegations suggesting that Mishra was dragged into a house owned by Abdul Hamid, where he was shot multiple times. Eyewitnesses stated that Hamid’s residence was the point from which stones were thrown at the procession, leading to a confrontation between the communities.
Following his death, tensions in the area heightened, leading to the suspension of the Visarjan ceremony at various locations as authorities worked to prevent further unrest. Authorities are investigating these statements as part of their broader inquiry into the incident.
The killing has sparked outrage and fears of communal violence. Attempts to justify the incident have surfaced online, with some sharing videos depicting Mishra removing a green flag and replacing it with a saffron flag during the procession. The footage, circulated by alleged fact-checker Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of Alt News, seemed to be an effort to paint Mishra as an aggressor in the events leading up to his death.
Zubair noted that the video showed Mishra forcefully taking down the green flag while surrounded by a crowd chanting slogans. He wrote, “A video of Gopal Mishra in the Bahraich violence has surfaced. He is seen forcefully removing a Green flag and replacing it with a saffron flag. The mob can be seen shouting slogans and encouraging him to remove the flag. Gopal was shot dead later.”
A video of Gopal Mishra in the Bahraich violence has surfaced. He is seen forcefully removing a Green flag and replacing it with a saffron flag. The mob can be seen shouting slogans and encouraging him to remove the flag. Gopal was shot dead later. pic.twitter.com/hh8iqKP9yk
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) October 14, 2024
Critics have accused certain media outlets and commentators of downplaying the violence and providing a skewed narrative that fails to acknowledge the larger context of the incident. It is argued that the altercation was not simply a matter of removing a flag but was exacerbated by resistance to the DJ music and the subsequent stone-pelting, which contributed to the fatal escalation.
The repeated justifications for acts of terror amount to endorsing violence. With yet another Hindu festival marred by tragedy and another Hindu life lost, it is alarming to see people like Mohammed Zubair consistently downplaying or rationalizing such crimes.
From the brutal killing of Kanhaiya Lal to the tragic death of Gopal Mishra, there appears to be a pattern where certain voices and ecosystems attempt to normalize these attacks on Hindus, effectively setting the stage for future incidents. Such narratives not only undermine justice but also contribute to a climate where further violence is perpetuated.
Justifying an act of terror is itself terrorism!
Another Hindu festival, another Hindu life lost, and once again, @zoo_bear is there, normalizing the crimes for his Kaum!
From Kanhaiya Lal to Gopal Mishra, his ecosystem has consistently justified and normalized every instance… https://t.co/oxCqmAQzPC
— Ashok Singhal (@TheAshokSinghal) October 14, 2024
In April 2024, Zubair attempted to shape the narrative surrounding the tragic murder of two Hindu children in Badaun by suggesting that the motive behind the crime was being concealed by authorities. In a now-deleted post on X, Zubair referred to an unrelated incident where the victims’ father allegedly set fire to a motorcycle, implying it was connected to the murders. This attempt to link the arson incident with the killings created a misleading narrative that seemed to downplay the severity of the crime and divert attention from the actual brutality of the double homicide.
The Badaun Police responded to Zubair’s post by issuing a legal warning, advising against spreading unnecessary and potentially inflammatory information that could disrupt public order. Despite Zubair’s insinuations, the victims’ family clarified there were no ongoing disputes with the accused, and investigations later confirmed that the murders were premeditated acts committed by Sajid, with another suspect, Javed, still being pursued by the authorities.
He is known to repeatedly peddle fake news especially if it involved members of the Islamic community despite the fact that they could be in the wrong.
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