21 houses torched in Bihar’s Nawada over alleged land dispute, 10 arrested – India News

At least 21 houses belonging to the Scheduled Castes Ravidas and Manjhi were set ablaze in Bihar’s Nawada district on Wednesday night over an alleged land dispute.

Police said the incident took place in Krishna Nagar Mahadalit colonies under Muffasil police station in Nawada around 6:45 pm. Houses in 80 Mahadalit colonies on the roadside were gutted but no casualties were reported, The Indian Express reported.

Nawada police have arrested a local resident, Nandu Paswan, and nine others. According to the police, Paswan had earlier threatened the residents to leave the area.

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

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“Initial investigations suggest that the incident was due to a land dispute. A complaint has been filed and an investigation is underway,” he said.

Another police officer said shots were also fired into the air as houses were set ablaze.

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

No one was injured in the incident.

(With contributions from PTI)