21 houses of Dalit families set ablaze in Bihar’s Nawada in suspected land dispute

Remnants of houses burnt down in Nawada district of Bihar on September 18, 2024 | Photo credit: Special Arrangement

During the land registry, a Dalit Tola (hamlet) was attacked and at least 21 houses were set on fire by the suspected land mafia at Krishna Nagar village under Mufassil police station in Nawada district of Bihar on Wednesday night (September 18, 2024).

Initial investigation revealed that the incident took place over the land dispute issue. Villagers said that many shots were also fired by the suspected land mafia, who were more than a dozen in number.

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There is panic among the villagers and police are conducting raids to nab the culprits. So far 11 people have been arrested by the police. There is heavy deployment of police force in the area and senior police officials are camping in the village.

Speaking to media, Nawada police chief Abhinav Dhiman said, “We received information that around 7:15 pm, a few houses were burnt down. Initially, it was claimed that around 40 to 50 houses were destroyed, but after investigation by the police, we found that the houses of 21 families were burnt down by the miscreants. We will find out if there are any family members whose houses were burnt down. So far, there have been no reports of casualties. We have arrested the main suspect and 10 others have also been arrested.”

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Till last night 11 people were arrested including the main suspect Nandu Paswan and this morning four more people were arrested. Police also recovered three country made pistols and some empty cartridges

Asked about the cause of the fire, Mr. Dhiman further said, “There was a title dispute going on between two parties. The people who set fire to the house claimed that it was their land on which these people were settling. Considering the current situation, we have deployed a magistrate and police for the safety of the villagers. They will stay here for the next three to four days to build confidence among the villagers.”

Most of the people living in this village are from the Manjhi community and those who set fire to the house are from the Paswan community. Both are Dalit groups. The main suspect is Nandu Paswan, who has been arrested. The land on which the Manjhi community settled is government land.

In response to the incident, Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav posted a message on social media platform X, blaming the Chief Minister.

“There is Maha Jungleraj and Demon Raj. More than 100 houses of Dalits were set on fire in Nawada. There is fire everywhere in Bihar under Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is the least bothered about it. NDA allies are oblivious! They don’t care, let the poor burn and die. Atrocities against Dalits will not be tolerated,” Mr. Yadav wrote in the post on Thursday.

Department of Scheduled Caste and Tribe Welfare Minister Janak Ram said the accused will be punished.

“I have information about the Nawada incident where the houses of Scheduled Caste people were set on fire by the miscreants. This is a sad incident. The government will definitely take strict action against the miscreants, whoever they are. In this NDA government led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the people of the weaker sections, Dalit and Mahadalit families are safe. The government will not spare anyone,” Mr. Ram said.

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi also demanded action over the incident by writing a post on social media platform X.

“The burning of the entire Mahadalit Colony in Nawada and the destruction of the houses of over 80 families reveals the ghastly picture of injustice against the Bahujans in Bihar. The cries of these Dalit families who lost their homes and properties and the terror created in the deprived society by the echo of the fierce firing have failed to wake up the sleeping Bihar government,” he said in a message in Hindi on X.