Nawada firing: Who is Nandu Paswan, the land mafia behind burning of 80 Dalit homes?

Nawada: Nandu Paswan, a notorious land mafia from Pranpur in Bihar’s Nawada district, has emerged as the key figure behind the shocking incident that left over 80 houses of Dalit families in ashes. With a single signal from Paswan, around 100 armed goons descended on the Dalit settlement of Manjhi Tola, setting homes ablaze and firing indiscriminately.

The horrific attack took place in Krishna Nagar village under the Mufassil police station area of Bihar.

Who is Nandu Paswan?

Nandu Paswan, who is a powerful land mafia in the region, had long been eyeing the settlement where the Dalit families had built their homes. The village, located on the riverbank, became the focus of Paswan’s greed as he laid claim to the land, despite the fact that it officially belongs to the Bihar government. Villagers had been living under constant fear, knowing that Paswan had his sights set on their homes.

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According to local residents, Paswan’s ambition to take over the land was not new. There had already been incidents of violence in November 2023, when Paswan’s goons allegedly carried out a firing in the same area. Despite an FIR being lodged, villagers claim that no action was taken by the police at that time.

How the attack unfolded

On Wednesday, Paswan’s men, reportedly acting under his orders, stormed the Dalit colony in the dead of night. Armed with guns and torches, they set fire to the homes of over 80 Dalit families, reducing the settlement to rubble. The residents of Manjhi Tola, many of whom are labourers, could do little to stop the attack, watching helplessly as their homes and belongings were engulfed in flames. In addition to the destruction, multiple rounds of gunfire created terror among the villagers, leaving many injured and traumatized.

The homes of villagers including Gorelal, Jhapsi Manjhi, Sanjay Manjhi and many others were completely destroyed, leaving these families homeless and pleading for government aid.

Following the attack, the police arrested 10 accused, including Nandu Paswan. The police said that Paswan was the mastermind behind the attack, driven by his ambition to grab the land.

“Nandu Paswan is a resident of Pranpur and is well-known in the area for his involvement in illegal land deals. He had been after this settlement for a long time,” police sources revealed. The police are still conducting searches for the remaining suspects.

The land on which the Dalit families built their homes belongs to the Bihar government, but Paswan and his gang falsely claimed ownership. This land dispute had simmered for years, with Paswan reportedly making several attempts to evict the families. His desire to control the riverbank settlement culminated in this brazen act of violence.

Who said what on Nawada firing

The incident has sparked widespread political condemnation. Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav expressed his anger in a post on X, stating, “Maha Jungle Raj, Maha Danav Raj… Bihar is full of fire under the rule of Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar. Atrocities on Dalits will not be tolerated.”

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also condemned the attack, expressing his concern over the growing trend of violence against marginalized communities. In a post on X, he wrote, “Burning down the entire colony of Mahadalits in Nawada and destroying the houses of more than 80 families exposes the horrifying picture of injustice against the Bahujans in Bihar.”

He further criticized the silence of the central government, particularly targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies in Bihar. Gandhi added, “The echoes of fierce firing and the terror created by this incident have not been able to wake up the sleeping government of Bihar. Such anarchist elements find shelter under the leadership of BJP and NDA allies. They intimidate and suppress the Bahujans of India so that they cannot demand their social and constitutional rights.”

On the other hand, Bihar’s Scheduled Caste and Tribe Welfare Minister, Janak Ram, expressed deep sadness over the Nawada incident but defended the NDA government’s commitment to protecting weaker sections of society. In a statement, he said, “We have received information about the Nawada incident, where the houses of Scheduled Caste people were set on fire by goons. This is a sad incident, and it cannot be condemned enough. The government will take action against these criminals, whoever they are.”

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge was equally vocal in his criticism of the state government. In a strongly worded statement on X, he accused the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government of allowing lawlessness to flourish in Bihar. He said, “The terror of goons on Mahadalit Tola in Nawada, Bihar, is another proof of the jungle raj under the NDA double-engine government. It is highly condemnable that about 100 Dalit houses were set on fire, and everything of the poor families was snatched away in the darkness of night.” He added, “The BJP and its allies’ extreme indifference towards the Dalits and the deprived, their criminal neglect, and their promotion of anti-social elements is now at its peak. Prime Minister Modi is silent as usual, and Nitish Kumar is carefree in his greed for power.”

Priyanka Gandhi also spoke out against the Nawada incident, expressing her horror at the scale of the violence. On Instagram, she wrote, “The incident of burning more than 80 houses of Mahadalits in Nawada, Bihar, is extremely horrific and condemnable. Firing dozens of rounds and creating terror on such a large scale shows that law and order in the state has completely collapsed.” She emphasized the sense of fear that the attack had created among poor, rural communities in Bihar, adding, “The common rural-poor are forced to live in the shadow of insecurity and fear. I demand that the state government take strict action against the bullies who commit such injustice and that all the victims be properly rehabilitated.”

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati also expressed deep concern over the Nawada incident. On X, she wrote, “The incident of goons burning down the houses of poor Dalits in Bihar’s Nawada and ruining their lives is extremely sad and serious. The government should take strict legal action against the culprits and provide full financial help to the victims for their rehabilitation.”