A 22-year-old man died, and several others were injured during clashes between two groups in a village in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich over the playing of music during a Durga idol immersion procession.
After the incident, tension gripped the area as people set several vehicles on fire, prompting police to use force to bring the situation under control.
Clashes erupted when stones were thrown and gunshots were fired at the procession as it was passing through Bahraich's Mahrajganj Bazar area.
After the incident, the Bharaich Police detained at least 30 people. One man, identified as Salman, was also arrested after police found evidence of shots being fired at the procession from his home and shop.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath also took note of the incident and said that the guilty will not be spared.
In a post on X, he said, "Those who spoiled the law and order situation in Bahraich's Mahsi district will not be spared. Safety is guaranteed to all, but instructions have been given to identify the rioters and those whose negligence led to the incident and take strict action against them."
"Immersion of idols will continue. Administration and police officials have been directed to be present on the spot and speak with religious organisations to ensure that the immersion of idols is done," Yogi Aditynath said.
According to the police, a man identified as Ram Gopal Mishra, who was part of the procession, was shot. He was rushed to a hospital where he died during treatment, one of his family members said.
The family members of Mishra have refused to perform his last rites, stating that they will not proceed with the funeral until the accused are arrested.
Meanwhile, Bahraich's Superintendent of Police (SP) Vrinda Shukla also suspended two police officials for negligence.
"As many as 30 people have been detained. One of the accused, Salman, from whose home gunshots were fired, has been arrested. The Durga idol immersion has started again. We are checking the videos of the incident and trying to identify other accused," Shukla said.
Samajwadi Party leader appeals against provocation
Speaking to news agency ANI, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader ST Hasan urged people to not take the law into their own hands.
"No community should agitate the other community. No community should pelt stones on the other community. They should not take the law into their own hands. The right way is to tell your problems to the administration. But people agitate the communities," ST Hasan said.
"The people play music on loudspeakers near Masjids during the time of 'Namaz'. At most of the places where such clashes happen, it gets converted into 'Hindu-Muslim' violence. It weakens the country and society. Action must be taken against those who take laws in their hands," the former Moradabad MP added.
