Two held for Ram Gopal Mishra’s murder, two others for arson

Lucknow: Bahraich police on Sunday arrested four persons in connection with recent violence that broke out during the Durga idol immersion procession on Oct 13 in Maharajganj area of the district.While two were arrested for the murder of Ram Gopal Mishra, the other two were arrested for arson and vandalism, which occurred in the aftermath of Mishra's murder.Police said that after reviewing CCTV camera footage and gathering intelligence, they detained Maruf and Nankau near a bridge on the road to Deoraipur. The two accused were on the rooftop from where Sarfaraz, son of Hamid, allegedly opened fire at Ram Gopal on the fateful day, police said.On Oct 17, Bahraich police arrested Sarfaraz and his brother Talim, along with three others – Mohammed Afzal, Hameed, and Fahim.In the second case, Hardi police arrested Sushil Kumar Dwivedi and Mannu, who allegedly indulged in arson and vandalism in Maharajganj and surrounding areas on Oct 14.According to police, the suspects targeted properties across Maharajganj, Maheshpurwa, Jot Chandpara, and Parsohana, setting vehicles and houses on fire and looting several houses. The suspects were arrested near Kisanganj crossing.So far, Bahraich police have arrested 100 people and lodged 15 FIRs in connection with the murder of Ram Gopal Mishra and violence that broke out after the incident.The violence erupted following a dispute between two communities over the playing of DJ music, during which Ram Gopal Mishra was shot dead. The next day, huge crowd that gathered for the last rites of Mishra torched several vehicles at an automobile showroom and vandalized a hospital.Internet services were suspended in the district, and to bring the situation under control CM Yogi Adityanath had dispatched ADG (law and order) Amitabh Yash and home secretary Sanjeev Gupta to the spot.