Bahraich Violence Fallout: Action Against Police Officers Continues, ASP Shunted To Headquarters After SP Suspended

The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday (21 October) transferred Bahraich's Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural), Pavitra Mohan Tripathi for his failure to control the 13 October communal violence.

22-year-old Ram Gopal Mishra succumbed to bullet injuries in the violence after members of the Muslim community hit him for allegedly removing an Islamic flag from the rooftop after some dispute.

There was retaliatory violence and arson but the situation was brought under control as 12 companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and one company of Rapid Action Force (RAF) were deployed.

Since then, action has been taken against many police officials. Previously, Hardi Police Station's Station House Officer (SHO), S K Verma, and Mahsi outpost in-charge, Shiv Kumar, were suspended.

Circle Officer (CO) of Mahsi, Rupendra Gaur, was replaced by CO Ravi Khokhar. Additionally, Tehsildar Ravikant Dwivedi and District Information Officer Ghulam Waris were removed from their posts.

Now, ASP Tripathi has been sent to police headquarters and will be replaced by Durga Prasad Tiwari. He is accused of not acting appropriately despite having a PAC section and other forces under his control.

He is the second gazetted officer after deputy SP Rupendra Gaur, who was suspended over intelligence failure, to be shunted out of Bahraich.

Meanwhile, notices from the Public Works Department (PWD) regarding the removal of encroachments on 23 properties, including three owned by Hindu families, have been issued.

The Allahabad High Court, responding to a petition from the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), granted 15 days for the affected parties to submit their responses.

The government has been asked to provide relevant information within three days. The next hearing is scheduled for 23 October.