Harinagar village in Darbhanga, Bihar, presents a eerie scene: not a single man in sight across 70 homes. This mass desertion stems from a violent confrontation over unpaid labor dues, casting a shadow of terror over the remaining residents as police tighten their grip.
Roots of the conflict trace back to 2015, when Vikram Paswan supervised construction at Hemkant Jha’s residence without receiving Rs 2.5 lakh in wages. The simmering grudge exploded on January 30 during a confrontation with Jha’s son-in-law, culminating in a savage mob assault on January 31. Victims claim intruders wielded lathis and rods, beating family members, harassing women, and ransacking the house.
Police have booked 70 Brahmins by name and 150 others under stringent SC/ST provisions based on Ashrafi Paswan’s FIR. Fearing wrongful arrests, village men have scattered, halting daily life—markets closed, supplies dwindling. A resident woman lamented, ‘Peace was our norm; now dread defines us.’
Panchayat mukhiya Vimal Chandra Khan slammed authorities for delaying action post the initial spat, arguing it fueled the escalation. SSP Jagunath Reddy vowed fair investigations, insisting on evidence-based arrests. DSP Prabhakar Tiwari confirmed 12 detentions, multiple injuries, and bolstered forces to maintain order in the volatile zone.
As probes deepen, the village hovers between panic and fragile calm, highlighting deep fissures in rural Bihar’s social fabric.