BIGAUDI – Tension has gripped the village of Bigaudi in the Tala police station area of Uttar Pradesh after a brutal murder and subsequent attack on the accused’s property. On 11 July, Sahil Khan allegedly slit the throat of a youth named Shivnarayan Tiwari, killing him instantly.
Immediately after the murder, the police arrested Sahil Khan and sent him to jail. However, this did not stop local Hindu organisations from taking matters into their own hands. Reports indicate that members of the Sakala Hindu Samaj, along with villagers, organised a Mahapanchayat on 17 August, demanding further action from the police to implicate 18 additional people in the case.
Frustrated by the authorities’ alleged inaction, the mob marched through the village and set fire to the house of Sahil Khan. Eyewitnesses reported that the entire episode of arson and rioting unfolded in front of police personnel, who failed to intervene.
One villager, requesting anonymity, said, “It was shocking to see the police do nothing while the mob destroyed Sahil’s house. They just stood and watched.”
The police later extinguished the flames and took measures to control the situation. Nevertheless, the incident has heightened tension between communities, and authorities have converted the village into a police camp. A large force of police and administrative officials has been deployed to prevent any further escalation.
Sahil Khan’s family expressed fear and disappointment over the attack. “Our house was set on fire even after Sahil was arrested. We feel unsafe in our own village,” said a relative.
The Uttar Pradesh administration has yet to make any public statement regarding the role of the mob or the police in this alarming event. Meanwhile, villagers continue to live under strict surveillance as communal tensions remain high.
This incident raises serious questions about the safety of minorities and the impartiality of law enforcement when extremist elements take the law into their own hands.
