On 8 February 2026, a high-level inquiry team of CPI(ML) visited Harinagar village in Kusheshwarsthan block of Darbhanga district following a barbaric and organized attack on Dalit families. The team released a press statement at the district office on Saturday, condemning the atrocities and highlighting the state’s failure to protect marginalized communities.
Investigations revealed that the attack was carried out in retaliation for Dalit workers demanding pending wages. Approximately Rs 2 lakh in wages for construction work in Kerala had been pending for four years. In response to the demand for payment, hundreds of assailants, led by the village headman, sarpanch, and panchayat committee members, attacked the Paswan Tola, looting homes, shops, and small businesses.
The attackers went beyond the working families, assaulting the entire Dalit settlement. A 15-day-old infant was snatched from its mother and thrown into a pond, and a minor girl Komal was attacked in a life-threatening manner. CPI(ML) called this a crime against humanity.
The violence continued for nearly three hours, during which repeated calls to the police went unanswered. When a ‘112’ response team arrived, it was also attacked. The inquiry team noted that this was not administrative negligence but open protection of criminals by those in power. Several dozen people were injured, nine critically, receiving treatment at DMCH, while others were treated in the village.
CPI(ML) Demands:
- Conduct a high-level judicial inquiry into the Harinagar incident.
- Immediate arrest of all perpetrators.
- Provide legal protection to victim families.
- Prepare a list of all affected families and ensure adequate compensation.
The party also strongly condemned the Bela case, where a six-year-old girl was raped and murdered, demanding the harshest punishment for the perpetrators.
CPI(ML) and AIARLA have called upon Dalit and poor communities to unite in defense of their dignity and rights. Villagers will stage protests in their local areas on 11 February, including effigies of Nitish Kumar and Samrat Chaudhary, and the 12 February national workers’ strike will highlight both Harinagar and Bela incidents as key issues.
The inquiry team included District Secretary Baidyanath Yadav, Neyaz Ahmed – State Vice President, Insaf Manch, Abhishek Kumar – State Committee Member, Hari Paswan – District Committee Member and former head, among others.
