Bihar: 15 held after Dalit houses set on fire; Oppn slams Nitish govt

Fifteen people were arrested for allegedly torching twenty-one houses in Bihar's Nawada district on Wednesday evening (September 18), police said.

Preliminary investigation suggested that a land dispute could be the cause behind the incident that happened in Manjhi Tola in the Mufassil police station area, they said.

News reports say that about 100 miscreants stormed the Dalit settlement and opened fire, causing panic.

No one was injured in the incident, the police said.

Nitish Kumar condemns incident

Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday condemned the torching of houses in Nawada district and directed the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) to personally visit the site and oversee the probe.

Sources from the Chief Minister's Office said, "The CM condemned the incident and instructed the ADG (Law and Order) to monitor the probe on-site." He also emphasised the need to apprehend all suspects as quickly as possible.

The CM stressed that those who take the law into their own hands must be caught and punished. He directed all district magistrates and superintendents of police across the state to ensure that the rule of law prevails," a senior official of the CMO said.

Additionally, the CM instructed DMs and SPs to conduct searches in all local prisons to prevent any unlawful activities.

Torching homes

Nawada District Magistrate Ashutosh Kumar Verma told PTI, "The district police has arrested 15 people for allegedly torching the houses. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate further, and searches are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects."

Verma said approximately 21 houses, some of which were semi-pucca, were burned by a group in Manjhi Tola. He added that senior administrative and police officials on-site will provide a report detailing the exact number of damaged houses.

"We are providing relief materials, including food packets and drinking water, to those displaced. Temporary tents have been set up for the victims," he noted.

The DM refuted claims that cattle were charred, saying, "No evidence has been found to support that."

"A call was received around 7.30 pm that some houses were set on fire in Manjhi Tola. Police immediately reached the spot along with fire engines. It took some time to douse the blaze. According to villagers, a group of people started setting the houses on fire around 7 pm," said SP Abhinav Dhiman, who also visited the area.

"Preliminary investigation suggests that land dispute is the reason for the incident. A case has been registered and an investigation is underway," he said.

Another police officer said shots were also fired in the air when the houses were being torched.

Dhiman said the situation was now under control and a large contingent of the police was deployed in the area to prevent any flare-up.

Great Jungle Raj: Tejashwi Yadav

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav criticised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a social media post, “Great Jungle Raj! Great Rule of Demons! Great Rule of Demons! More than 100 Dalit homes were set on fire in Nawada. Under the rule of Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar, Bihar is burning everywhere. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is unconcerned, NDA allies are oblivious! The poor burn and die – what do they care? Atrocities against Dalits will not be tolerated.”

Govt’s utter indifference towards Dalits and deprived: Congress

The Congress on Thursday (September 19) also slammed the NDA government in Bihar over the incident of setting ablaze of houses in Nawada, saying it is another proof of the "jungle raj" prevailing in the state and shows the dispensation's "utter indifference" towards Dalits and the deprived.

While Congress leaders pegged the number of houses set ablaze at over 80, police said 21 houses were set on fire in Nawada district.

"The terror of goons on Mahadalit Tola in Bihar's Nawada is another proof of the jungle raj of NDA's double engine government," Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a post in Hindi on X.

"It is highly condemnable that about 100 Dalit houses were set on fire, firing was done and everything of poor families was snatched in the darkness of the night," Kharge claimed.

He alleged that the BJP and its allies' "utter indifference" towards Dalits and deprived, "criminal neglect" and encouraging anti-social elements is now at its peak.

"Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi is silent as usual, Nitish (Kumar) ji is carefree in the greed for power, and NDA's allies have become silent," he said.

Horrific and condemnable

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the incident of "burning down more than 80 houses of Mahadalits" in Nawada, Bihar is extremely horrific and condemnable.

"Firing dozens of rounds and creating terror on such a large scale and rendering people homeless shows that the law-and-order situation in the state has completely collapsed," she said in a post in Hindi on X.

"The common rural-poor are forced to live in the shadow of insecurity and fear," she said.

"I demand from the state government that strict action should be taken against the bullies who commit such injustice and all the victims should be properly rehabilitated," Priyanka Gandhi said.

Mayawati demands strict action

BSP president Mayawati on Thursday demanded strict action by the Bihar government.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also called for full financial support by the government for rehabilitation of the poor victims.

"The incident of burning down of many houses of poor Dalits in Bihar's Nawada by the goons and ruining their lives is extremely sad and serious. The government should take strict legal action against the culprits and also provide full financial help for the rehabilitation of the victims," Mayawati posted in Hindi on X.

(With inputs from agencies)