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Bihar goes the Jharkhand way – Dalits, OBCs being lynched by their own people

Birendra Yadav on how, after Jharkhand, Bihar, too, is on course to become a ‘mob-lynching state’. Bihar has witnessed a string of mob lynchings recently. All the victims have been either Dalits or OBCs  

Mob frenzy has assumed dangerous proportions in the country. Blood-thirsty mobs are killing and maiming innocent people, merely on the suspicion that they are thieves, dacoits, molesters, child-lifters or cattle-smugglers. Almost all the victims of mob violence come from lower socio-economic strata. Just as most rape victims are from castes which are socially and economically backward. An analysis of the cases registered in police stations would show that women from dominant and powerful castes rarely become victims of rape, though one may find cases of their abduction.

Mob violence has its own sociology. Sometime ago, three people were lynched in Chhapra, Bihar.  They were suspected to be cattle thieves and were apparently caught in the act. All three belonged to the ‘Nat’ caste – two were Hindus and one was a Muslim. On 19 July 2019, Mohammed Arman, a Pasmanda Muslim, was beaten to death at Mahua in Vaishali district. The mob suspected that he was involved in a bank heist. Then, on 22 July 2019, an OBC, Rampravesh Yadav, was killed by a mob over a land dispute.

These are only the recent incidents. They make up a long list, mostly thanks to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. In Gumla district of Jharkhand, four tribals and Dalits were beaten to death by a frenzied mob on 21 July 2019.

On 19 July 2019, three persons were lynched in Chhapra, Bihar, for allegedly stealing cattle

Mob lynchings draw nationwide attention when the victims and the perpetrators are from different religions. But when the trigger is the victim’s caste, the incident gets only local coverage. On 22 July 2019, a Bihar assembly session had to be adjourned as the opposition persisted with its demand that the issue be taken up for discussion immediately. Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary turned down the demand after which the opposition members created a ruckus, leading to the adjournment of the House.

Questions over the handling of mob lynchings have been aimed at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who also holds the Home portfolio

When the House resumed business, Rashtriya Janata Dal MLA Ramnuj Prasad, raising the issue of mob lynchings, asked why only vulnerable sections of society, namely minorities, Dalits and OBCs, were victims. He noted that all the victims of Chhapra lynching were Nats. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar did not comment on the issue. On his behalf, minister and the ruling Janata Dal (United) Chief Whip Shravan Kumar told the House that the government had taken a serious view of the issue and was taking necessary action.

One aspect of this worrisome trend is that the perpetrators of violence and those involved are from the majority non-Savarna castes. For some reason, people are losing their temper over petty issues. All sections of society seem to have developed a violent streak. In cases of theft, dacoity, molestation and cattle smuggling, the crowd delivers instant justice, without giving the victim any opportunity to present their side. The crowd pronounces them guilty, sentences them to death and executes the sentence. In several cases of mob lynching over alleged smuggling of cattle, the savarnas have incited the OBCs to commit the violence and disappeared from the scene – and the use of the resultant religious frenzy for political and electoral gains has begun.


Forward Press also publishes books on Bahujan issues. Forward Press Books sheds light on the widespread problems as well as the finer aspects of Bahujan (Dalit, OBC, Adivasi, Nomadic, Pasmanda) society, culture, literature and politics. Contact us for a list of FP Books’ titles and to order. Mobile: +917827427311, Email: info@forwardmagazine.in)

The titles from Forward Press Books are also available on Kindle and these e-books cost less than their print versions. Browse and buy:

The Case for Bahujan Literature

Mahishasur: A people’s hero

Dalit Panthers: An Authoritative History

Mahishasur: Mithak wa Paramparayen

The Common Man Speaks Out

Jati ke Prashn Par Kabir

The Case for Bahujan Literature

Mahishasur: A people’s hero

Dalit Panthers: An Authoritative History

Mahishasur: Mithak wa Paramparayen

The Common Man Speaks Out

Jati ke Prashn Par Kabir

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वीरेंद्र यादव

फारवर्ड प्रेस, हिंदुस्‍तान, प्रभात खबर समेत कई दैनिक पत्रों में जिम्मेवार पदों पर काम कर चुके वरिष्ठ पत्रकार वीरेंद्र यादव इन दिनों अपना एक साप्ताहिक अखबार 'वीरेंद्र यादव न्यूज़' प्रकाशित करते हैं, जो पटना के राजनीतिक गलियारों में खासा चर्चित है

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