Following the murder of Nishad community trader Vinod Sahani in Gonda, his family's anger flared up. The deceased's brother, Vinay Sahani, leveled serious accusations against the police and administration, asserting that despite receiving information about threats, timely measures were not taken. He stated that although both his family and the accused party are associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), his family is not receiving due attention. The brother emphasized: 'Even within the BJP, we are not heard; there is a difference between castes, we are fishermen.'
The incident occurred in Shahpur Danwa village, which falls under the Parsapur police station jurisdiction in Gonda. On September 9th, 45-year-old Vinod Sahani was returning home after closing his crockery shop when a group of people attacked him using sharp objects. As a result of the attack, Vinod sustained severe injuries and was rushed to KGMU in Lucknow for treatment, where he later passed away.
Vinay Sahani claimed that his brother had been receiving threats in advance. The family informed the police about this, but effective action was not taken in time. He believed that if the police had taken the matter seriously earlier, his brother's life could have been saved. Vinay also noted that his brother actively defended the rights of fishermen and the Nishad community, which caused dissatisfaction among some individuals. He demanded decisive action against the culprits from the government.
In connection with this case, Minister Sanjay Nishad joined the protest in support of the victim's family. Earlier, he visited the Circuit House, where, upon seeing a large number of police forces, he sharply criticized the District Magistrate (DM) and the Senior Police Officer (SP). The minister questioned why such a large contingent of police forces was deployed around the victim's family and supporters. He urged the officials that the image of the government should not be harmed and that the police should provide protection to those supporting the victim's family without obstructing them.
During the demonstration, Sanjay Nishad demanded the swift arrest of all participants in the murder and the application of measures under the National Security Act (NSA) and the Gang Act. He also insisted on an investigation into police negligence, as the family had previously requested security. Minister Sanjay Nishad demanded security for Vinod Sahani's family, provision of government employment for one family member, and financial assistance. He added that they would not rest until all criminals were punished. He reminded that Vinod Sahani was not just an activist, but a fervent defender of the rights of the Nishad community and fishermen. The minister stressed that no one has the right to kill a person using the law for their own purposes, citing a social media comment; in case of a dispute, one should seek help from the police and the law.
During the protest, District Director Priyanka Niranjan also arrived at the scene and sat down in front of Minister Sanjay Nishad. She assured that the Prime Minister's zero tolerance policy would lead to maximum legal action against the culprits. She also promised the victim's family all possible assistance from the government and administration.
Vinay Sahani demanded that the government provide financial aid to the family of at least one acre. Furthermore, he demanded the use of bulldozers against the illegal property of the accused and the adoption of strict measures against the culprits in line with the zero tolerance policy. He stated that if justice was not served to him, he would voice his opinion in Gorakhnath Pit. After the demonstration, Minister Sanjay Nishad visited the deceased's home and consoled the family. His presence was present at Vinod Sahani's funeral, where a large number of police forces were stationed at the site. The family and supporters also held a demonstration demanding bulldozer action and the arrest (encounters) of the accused.
Following the incident, the police registered a case against three named individuals and five to seven unidentified persons. According to police data, three accused have been arrested so far. During interrogations, the accused mentioned a dispute arising from an alleged offensive comment on social media directed at a certain social group. Nevertheless, Minister Sanjay Nishad clearly stated that responding to any offensive comment cannot be violence or murder. Strict measures must be taken against those who take the law into their own hands. Allegations of police negligence were also raised. Consequently, the station chief and the officer in charge were suspended and ordered to undergo disciplinary proceedings. Now, the focus of the victim's family and the Nishad community is on the arrest of the remaining accused and the government's response to their demands.