21 Dalit homes set on fire in Bihar, Congress’s jungle raj swipe at NDA

Over 20 houses were set on fire by miscreants in a Dalit settlement in Bihar’s Nawada district allegedly over a land dispute. Police said 15 people, including the prime suspect, have been arrested even as the RJD and Congress called the incident another proof of “jungle raj” prevailing in Bihar.
Initially, it was reported that over 80 houses were gutted in the incident on Wednesday night, but police have put the number at 21. A large contingent of police has been deployed in the area to prevent any flare-up.
The villagers have alleged that the miscreants stormed into their settlement and thrashed several Dalit families. The houses were then set ablaze and shots were also fired in the air.
However, Superintendent of Police Abhinav Dhiman denied reports of aerial firing, saying no shells were found by the police. He also said that no one was injured in the incident.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar held a meeting with senior officials regarding the Nawada incident and directed the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) to personally visit the site and oversee the probe. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has also been formed to further investigate the matter.
The government said strict action would be taken against the guilty and no one would be spared.
Tearing into the JD(U)-BJP government, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said the incident showed the dispensation’s “utter indifference” towards Dalits and the deprived.
“Burning down an entire colony of Mahadalits in Nawada highlights the horrifying picture of injustice against the Bahujans in Bihar,” Gandhi tweeted.
“Such anarchist elements find shelter under the leadership of the BJP and its NDA allies. They intimidate and suppress the Bahujans so that they cannot even demand their social and constitutional rights… The silence of the Prime Minister is a seal of approval of this big conspiracy,” he further said.

BSP chief Mayawati demanded strict action by the Bihar government against the culprits and financial support for rehabilitation of 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 tweeted.
Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said atrocities against Dalits wouldn’t be tolerated and asked the Chief Minister to wake up from his “slumber” and break his silence.
“The Chief Minister of the third-largest party in Bihar has stopped speaking for months… the NDA is not concerned about Bihar but about criminals,” he said.