The All India Progressive Women’s Association (AIPWA) held a protest in Patna on October 12, 2026, demanding the immediate release of 32 women and seven men imprisoned in Beur Jail following the police raid in Beherawan Chakia village under Pipra police station. The protest also demanded accountability for the deaths of three Mahadalit people and action against the police personnel responsible for atrocities against women.
Hundreds of women, along with members of the affected families, marched from Gait Public Library to the Gardanibagh protest site in Patna. AIPWA General Secretary Meena Tiwari said that on October 4, police raided Beherawan Chakia in the name of searching for liquor, abused women, pulled at girls’ dupattas and arrested 32 women, many of them mothers of young children and infants. She condemned the treatment of women and demanded action against the police personnel responsible.
She said that some villagers, frightened by the raid, jumped into a nearby river. According to villagers, police threw stones at them in the water, preventing them from emerging, leading to the deaths of Ramu Manjhi and Ashok Manjhi. AIPWA demanded an investigation and action against the police officials responsible.
Meena Tiwari also raised the case of Raja Babu, who died by suicide on October 26 after the police harassment of his family. On September 11, police searching for him over an allegation of alcohol consumption had arrested his father, Suresh Mahto, his mother and his adult sister, and harassed them at the police station late into the night. Raja Babu was deeply distressed by the treatment meted out to his mother and sister. His family has approached senior officials seeking justice but has received no relief.
Condemning the intensifying police repression of Dalits and Mahadalits in Bihar, Meena Tiwari said women were also being subjected to abuse and jailed in false cases. She demanded an end to the harassment of Musahar families in the name of liquor enforcement and called for alternative employment and compensation for affected families.
CPIML Bihar MLC Shashi Yadav said women across Bihar were facing oppression at the hands of both the police and criminal forces. She demanded the suspension of the Pipra police station in-charge and the immediate release of the imprisoned women.
AIPWA submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister demanding the release of all 32 women and seven men; suspension of the Pipra police station in-charge and other police personnel responsible for the deaths of Ramu Manjhi, Ashok Manjhi and Raja Babu, followed by an investigation and appropriate action; action against police personnel who mistreated women; an end to the eviction and harassment of Musahar families in the name of liquor enforcement without alternative employment or government jobs; and alternative employment in every Musahar settlement along with compensation for all affected families.
The protest demanded an end to police atrocities against Dalit and Mahadalit communities and justice for the affected families.
