Local police caught unprepared despite communal flare-ups in Bahraich in 2009, 2014

Lucknow: Tensions between two communities during the immersion of Durga idols in Bahraich's Maharajganj market area escalated into the murder of Ram Gopal Mishra on Sunday night, leading to clashes that continued until Monday noon. This marks the third major communal incident in the district, following similar outbreaks in 2009 and 2014.
In October 2009, violence erupted in the same area after rumours spread about objectionable materials being thrown at a religious site.The unrest had resulted in widespread arson and vandalism. A similar incident occurred in January 2014, triggered by disputes over loud DJ music, which also impacted the Nanpara area.
Sources at the DGP headquarters revealed that local police were unprepared for the potential escalation, having underestimated the sensitivity of the location. Despite its history of communal tension, the local Hardi police station and the Mahsi circle failed to report the area's status to the SP office, leading to insufficient deployment of forces.
Officials highlighted that the area is a known hotspot for communal violence, with a long-standing lack of mutual respect between the communities. On Sunday, during the Durga idol immersion, there were approximately 1,400 idols being processed, according to district police records. However, police presence was inadequate, leaving the situation vulnerable to escalation.
The Mahsi circle officer, who has since been suspended, was unaware of the altercation in Maharajganj market. By the time he reached the scene, the situation had spiralled out of control.
Adding to the lapses, the local intelligence unit (LIU) failed to assess the volatile situation on both Sunday and Monday. The LIU neither provided timely inputs about the sensitivity of the area nor maintained a connection with key local figures who could have helped de-escalate the tensions.
A senior official involved in the investigation noted that weapons like sticks, tridents (trishuls), bricks, and stones were quickly gathered at the scene, and a crowd was mobilised within minutes. This suggests that the violence was premeditated, pointing to a possible conspiracy aimed at disturbing the peace in the district.