"15 people arrested till now": SDO Akhilesh Kumar on Nawada arson

Nawada (Bihar) [India], September 19 : Providing crucial details on the recent arson incident in Bihar's Nawada Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDO) Akhilesh Kumar on Thursday confirmed that atleast 15 people have been arrested in the case till now.

In a shocking incident, 20-25 houses were set ablaze by unidentified miscreants in the Mufassil Police Station area in Krishnanagar in Bihar's Nawada.

According to Sunil Kumar, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Sadar Nawada, initial investigations suggest that a land dispute may be the primary cause of the violence.

Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDO), Akhilesh Kumar while speaking about the case said, "The land dispute matter is going on the court and everyone will accept the decision of the court. We received information about the incident at 7:15 PM. Around 21 houses have been burnt..."
"We have arranged the food for the victims, their bathing and sanitation facilities are also being taken care of," he said.
Kumar stated that atleast 15 people have been arrested in the case so far.

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi called for immediate action against the culprits of the Nawada incident, where several houses were burned, emphasizing that the state police must swiftly take measures to rehabilitate the victims

"Burning down an entire colony of Mahadalits in Nawada and destroying the houses of more than 80 families is highlighting the horrifying picture of injustice against the Bahujans in Bihar. The cries of the Dalit families who had lost their homes and property and the terror created in the deprived society by the echo of the fierce firing were also not successful in waking up the sleeping government of Bihar," Rahul Gandhi wrote in a post on X.

Lashing out at the NDA government and accusing them of sheltering the anarchists who intimidate the Bahujans, Rahul said that the silence of the Prime Minister on such an incident is a "seal of approving" this big conspiracy.

"The Bihar Government and the State Police must take immediate and strict action against all the culprits of this shameful crime and provide complete justice to the victim families by rehabilitating them," the Congress leader wrote on X.

Union Minister Chirag Paswan also expressed strong condemnation over the incident and described the act as "extremely shameful and reprehensible."

As a major ally of the NDA government, Paswan called on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to take decisive action. "I demand that such culprits be arrested as soon as possible and given the harshest punishment," he stated, emphasizing the need for financial assistance for the victims.

He also called for a judicial inquiry into the incident, asserting, "We must ensure that no one dares to commit such an act in the future."

Paswan extended his condolences to the victims' families, stating, "I and my party have deep condolences for the victim's family," and announced plans to visit the site soon to meet with those affected.