In a shocking incident, more than 20 homes belonging to Dalit families were set on fire in Nawada district on Wednesday evening, allegedly over a land dispute. The arson took place in Manjhi Tola within the Mufassil Police station area, where miscreants torched homes one after another. While no injuries have been reported, shots were fired in the air during the attack, causing panic among local residents.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Law and Order to visit the site and assess the situation. So far, 15 people have been detained in connection with the incident, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has launched search operations to apprehend other suspects involved.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhinav Dhiman, who visited the site, said, “A call was received around 7:30 p.m. informing that some houses were set on fire in Manjhi Tola. Police arrived on the scene immediately with fire engines, but it took time to control the blaze. Villagers stated that a group of people began setting the houses on fire at around 7 p.m.”
Local authorities have moved quickly to provide relief to the affected families. Nawada District Magistrate Ashutosh Kumar Verma confirmed that relief materials, including food and drinking water, are being distributed to those displaced by the violence. Temporary tents have been set up for the victims. Verma also denied claims that cattle were charred in the incident, stating, “No evidence has been found to support that.”
The violence has sparked widespread political reactions. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the attack, calling it a sign of “jungle raj” under the current National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in Bihar. “The terror of the bullies on the Mahadalit colony in Nawada, Bihar is another proof of the jungle raj of the NDA double engine government,” Kharge wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar for their silence, accusing them of turning a blind eye to the plight of Dalits and other marginalized communities.
Sources By Agencies