Uttar Pradesh: Two Bahraich murder accused trying to escape custody injured in encounter with police

Uttar Pradesh police on Oct 17 said that two of the five accused arrested for their alleged role in the murder of Ram Gopal Mishra in Bahraich district were injured in an encounter when they tried to attack the police team escorting them for the recovery of murder weapon near Nepal border.

Mishra (22) was shot dead amid clashes in the Maharajgang area of Bahraich during an idol immersion procession on Oct 12.

Superintendent of Police, Bahraich, Vrinda Shukla was quoted as saying on Oct 17 that two accused under arrest — Sarfaraz and Talib — were injured in firing near the Nepal border in the Nanpara area when they opened fire on a police team to escape the custody.

“The accused duo in police custody had gone along with a police team to recover the murder weapon, which they had hidden near the Nepal border in the Nanpara area. Upon reaching the location, the DBBL gun used in the murder was found loaded along with another illegal weapon that had been concealed there,” said Shukla.

“The accused in a pre-planned conspiracy opened fire, and in self-defense, the police returned fire. Both the accused were injured. The other three accused have also been arrested. Based on their interrogation, more vital information has been gathered about other accused individuals, and efforts are underway to apprehend them,” he added.

The police officer did not mention when and from where the accused were arrested.

Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Amitabh Yash was quoted as saying on Oct 17 that two of the accused sustained bullet injuries during an encounter with police near the Nanpara police station in Bahraich, when they were heading along with a police team the recovery of weapon used to commit the murder.

Yash said that police have also seized the weapon used in Mishra's murder. He identified the other three accused as Mohammed Fahim, Hamid and Afzal.

The injured accused duo are currently undergoing treatment at the district hospital in Bahraich and are out of danger, according to Shukla.

He said that the murder accused would be charged under the National Security Act (NSA) and other relevant sections of the law would be slapped against the culprits.

Notably, violence erupted in the Maharajgang area on Oct 13 a day after Mishra of Rehua Mansoor village in Mahsi tehsil was killed due to a gunshot wound fired amid clashes.

The clashes erupted on Oct 12 evening after some locals allegedly asked for the music to be turned off as a Durga idol procession passed through a Muslim neighborhood, according to police.