In a violent incident during the Maa Durga visarjan procession in northern India’s Uttar Pradesh, communal tensions flared, leading to clashes that escalated into deadly violence.

The incident took place in Mahsi Maharajganj market area of Bahraich district on October 13.

Visuals showed the chaos as a man was rushed to the hospital on a stretcher by locals after suffering gunshot wounds. His unconscious body lay in the hospital ward, with visible bullet injuries. In the early hours of the morning, the man’s lifeless body was carried for final rites under heavy police protection as tensions continued to rise. Another video showed a furious man removing the flag of a minority community and replacing it with a Hindu religious flag, amid a crowd that supported his actions. Following this, shops and vehicles in the area were set on fire, reflecting the intensity of the communal unrest.

According to reports, the Bahraich district administration suspended two police officers and detained over 25 people in connection with the violence that erupted during the procession. The district magistrate, Monika Rani, confirmed that the idol immersion was eventually completed under tight security, continuing until 5am on Monday.

The body of Ram Gopal Mishra, a 22-year-old resident of Rehuwa Mansoor village, was handed over to his family after a post-mortem. Mishra was shot dead during the clashes after stones were thrown and gunfire broke out in the minority-dominated area of the procession route. His death sparked widespread outrage, leading to vehicles being vandalized and four houses being set on fire.

Superintendent of Police Vrinda Shukla stated that 25-30 people had been taken into custody, and more were being identified through video footage of the violence.