Nalanda: Teen among two lynched after RJD leader’s murder

On Wednesday, local RJD leader Indal Paswan’s body with bullet injuries was found at a potato field near Kakobigha. Kakobigha residents alleged that soon after the body was found, over 300 people attacked the village, torched some homes and beat Santu Malakar (32) and Ranjan Yadav (15) to death.

Nalanda DSP (security) Jyoti Prakash said, “It looks like a fight over dominance that had an immediate trigger. Five people have been arrested for mob lynching.”

Among those arrested are Kakobigha-Maghrasarai mukhiya’s son Sonu Paswan.

Yadav and Malakar, who reportedly clashed with Paswans in the past, had been targeted on suspicion, said a police officer. The officer said four FIRs — one each for the three murders and one for arson — have been lodged.

Some village elders of Kakobigha said Paswans exercised dominance in the area as they were more in number and financially better off than other communities. Among Kakobigha residents are people from Yadav, Malakar, Koeri and Kurmi communities and some Rajput and Bhumihar families.

Suresh Yadav, a village elder, said, “Paswans are more in number and have the support of Paswans from about half-a-dozen villages in the area. There are only five Yadav households in Kakobigha.”

Kakobigha residents said most villagers have fled their homes fearing another attack. While Santu Malakar’s home was found locked, doors of Ranjan Yadav’s residence were wide open, but there was no one inside.

Some villagers also alleged that Indal Paswan had an illicit relationship with a woman from Kakobigha and that he could have been attacked over the affair.

At Paswan-dominated Maghrasarai, residents alleged that Yadavs and Malakars demanded money to let them use the approach road to Biharsharif that goes through Kakobigha.

Indal Paswan’s sister-in-law Imli Devi said, “Indal had been running a business of stone chips at Kakobigha for two years. He was never targeted before. Some lumpen youths of Kakobigha would trouble us when we crossed their village on our way to Biharsharif town.” Several women alleged that police had been harassing them by conducting raids at their homes at midnight. “We have no one to defend us after Indal is gone. If the police harassment continues, we will go to the SP,” Imli said.

A senior police officer at the spot said, “It is a usual fight over dominance. Even upper caste Bhumihars, who once gave land to Paswans to settle here, keep away from the fight between Paswans and others.”