In the morning of 16 February 2024 a mahadalit poor woman went to deliver milk in the Brahmin Tola which was her daily routine. When her husband returned home from work in the afternoon, he found out that she hadn’t come back. He, along with other relatives, went in search of her at Karelal Thakur house in Brahmin Tola, where the deceased had gone to deliver milk, but the house owner scolded and shooed them away. The 39 years old victim was from Mahadalit Gangotri caste, an extremely backward community. Her husband runs an e-rickshaw. They have 4 daughters and 2 sons.
The woman’s family filed a missing complaint at the Rangra police station, but the officials took no action, arrogantly telling the relatives to go to the temple and worship for her return.
On February 17, when police visited the victim’s house, the husband raised suspicion that Karelal Thakur might have done something to his wife. But the police officials, instead of searching for the victim, threatened the family that a case would be filed against them if the woman doesn’t return.
After a relentless search by family members, they found the woman's dead body on the morning of 18 February in a naked state at Kailu Nishad’s cattle-shed. She was gang-raped before being murdered. Some of the victim’s belongings including the milk can were recovered from Karelal Thakur’s house. All the accused come from the Brahmin community, one of whom is a Panchayat Samiti member. The names are – Karelal Thakur, Saurabh Thakur, Raja Thakur, Suman Thakur and Jimmy alias Pradeep Thakur.
Shortly after the body was found, a large number of people spontaneously gathered to protest against the lack of action by police in the case. As per the reports, the police fired 12 rounds of bullets on the protesting people.
Kunal, Bihar State Secretary of CPIML, condemned the gross criminal negligence on the part of the administration in this incident. With the BJP seizing power in Bihar, the morale of the feudal criminals is increasing. He also noted that the negligence and lack of action by the police was the main reason behind people’s outrage.
On February 19, a fact-finding team comprising Bindeshwari Mandal, CPIML District Secretary of Bhagalpur, Navgachhia Block Secretary Ramdev Singh, RYA activist Gaurishankar Rai, AIPWA District Secretary Renu Devi, Kanchan Devi and Meena Devi visited the spot and met the family members of the victim. They also spoke to villagers about the incident.
CPIML demanded that all the criminals should be immediately arrested and action should be taken against erring and negligent police officials. The district administration must also provide compensation to the victim’s family members. On February 20, a protest march was taken out by CPIML in Bhagalpur against this incident and police-feudal nexus.
