Clashes erupt near Yogi’s Gorakhpur over saffron flag

A clash between two communities rocked Bargadwa village under Paniyara police station in Maharajganj district on Sunday, October 7. On a pole in the village there was a green-coloured flag, but a few people replaced it with a saffron-coloured flag used by Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh.

As soon as it was discovered, clashes erupted between the two communities. The stone pelting that ensued injured four persons of both the communities. The police have admitted them to a local primary health centre and have taken six people into custody. Police force has been deployed in the village and the flag has been removed.

Maharajganj is adjacent to Gorakhpur, the seat of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who happens to be the Mahanth of Gorakhnath temple. Paniyara has witnessed communal clashes many times in past also, when Yogi was MP of Gorakhpur and his personal militia, Hindu Yuva Vahini used to campaign for him in Lok Sabha elections. They often used to clash with the rival party's voters.

Devendra Kumar, Circle Officer of the area, said, “The police are there in the village and trying to maintain peace. Some villagers have sustained injuries and are under treatment in the local government hospital.”

The condition of one of those injured is serious, said Manish Kumar Singh, the station house officer of Pariyara.

“Some people had removed one flag and put up another during preparation for Durga Puja. A woman saw them and reacted sharply to it. Later, the anti-social people attacked each other. Presently, there is peace in the village,” added Singh.