Fifteen individuals were apprehended on Thursday in connection with the destruction of 21 houses in Manjhi Tola, Nawada, on Wednesday evening, as confirmed by the state government. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has dispatched a fact-finding team to investigate the incident, with further arrests anticipated.

Rajiv Ranjan, spokesperson for the ruling Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)], assured that strict action would be taken against the perpetrators, urging Dalits not to be frightened by the incident. This comes amid accusations from the Opposition that the Bihar government failed to protect the marginalized communities.

According to Nawada District Magistrate Ashutosh Kumar Verma, the district police have arrested 15 suspects for allegedly setting the houses on fire. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been established to continue the investigation, with ongoing searches to locate additional suspects. Verma noted that some of the burned houses were semi-pucca, and senior administrative and police officials will provide a detailed report on the damage.

No injuries were reported. Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhinav Dhiman stated that police were alerted around 7:30 PM about the fire in Manjhi Tola. Fire engines were dispatched promptly, and it took some time to extinguish the flames. Dhiman indicated that initial investigations suggest the incident was triggered by a land dispute. A case has been registered and is under investigation.

Reports also indicated that shots were fired during the incident. Dhiman assured that the situation is now under control, with a heavy police presence deployed to prevent further unrest.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condemned the incident in a social media post, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies of committing atrocities against the marginalized communities. Gandhi criticized the Bihar government for failing to act and alleged that the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi implied approval of the situation.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge echoed these sentiments, accusing the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of fostering a “jungle raj” and alleging that poor families were robbed of their valuables. Kharge criticized both Prime Minister Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Kumar for their perceived inaction.

In response, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya refuted these claims, stating that the suspects and victims were from the same Dalit community and the incident was related to a land dispute between two Dalit groups — the ‘Manjhi’ and ‘Paswan’ communities. Malviya accused Rahul Gandhi of creating confusion and exploiting the situation for political gain.