Landlords set 24 houses of Dalits on fire

Landlords today allegedly set 24 houses belonging to Dalits on fire following a dispute over a land in Lagma village of Ghanshyampur block in Darbhanga.

Superintendent of Police Pankaj Darad told reporters that the people of Dalit community had yesterday forcibly constructed huts on the land of one Ramakant Jha.

The landlords were removing the encroachment during which a violence broke out between the two groups injuring six persons including four women, Darad said.

The injured were admitted to a nearby primary health centre. One Ramvilas Ram, who was critically injured, has been referred to Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital.

Darad said all the injured have been arrested and FIR and counter FIR have been lodged by the sides.

Policemen had been deployed on the disputed land for quite sometime but due to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar&aposs' Vikas Yatra&aposprogramme in Biraul block of the district, they were withdrawn and homeguards were deployed, the SP said. One homeguard was also injured in the incident.

The CPI-ML (Liberation) condemned torching of Dalit houses.