Darbhanga beheading incident:
If we were to believe that the anti-India slogans raised during the RJD victory celebrations were a war cry, we might not be mistaken. An even more shocking incident has emerged from Darbhanga, where a 70-year old man was allegedly killed by 20 to 25 men merely over the naming of a town square as ‘Narendra Modi chowk’. This adds to a spate of incidents where Hindus have been attacked or killed over petty communal and political disputes. Such victims are often unfortunate ones, as a sizeable section of the media and the political class chooses to remain mum over such incidents.
Darbhanga Beheading: Statement of the BJP worker:
According to the son of the victim, Kamlesh Yadav, a BJP worker, the dispute emerged when a square in his native village Bhadavan was named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi two years ago. As narrated by him, local RJD supporters who were opposed to the naming of the square after the Prime Minister tried to remove the plaque bearing his name. On being stopped, they argued that RJD’s victory in the by-poll marked RJD’s resurgence, and that they wanted to name the square after Lalu Prasad Yadav. The RJD supporters left after being confronted by the BJP worker and his father. But they returned at night with a group of 20 to 25 men and killed the 70-year old father of the BJP worker. This was followed by a protest by local BJP workers demanding action.
Darbhanga Beheading: Preliminary Investigation Reports:
The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Dilnvaj Ahamad, however stated that no links have been found between the recent by poll victory of the RJD and this incident. He also stated that the police will investigate the matter from all angles and come to a conclusion. He said that a land dispute had emerged between the alleged accused and the deceased.
Therefore, the attack could have been the result of a personal feud between the attackers and the deceased. However, since the tragedy unfolded yesterday, many more details will emerge in the course of the investigation. The statement given by the son of the deceased is also relevant to the case, and will play an important role as the case moves forward.
Darbhanga Beheading: Conclusion
The Rashtriya Janta Dal has only won a by-poll, and we have seen the result of their “celebrations”. If the son’s testimony is to be believed, such incidents are a reminder of the fearful days of RJD’s jungle-raj when Bihar was an anarchic state.
If the RJD workers, as alleged, can go about beheading the father of BJP workers merely on winning a by-poll, one can imagine how all hell would break loose if they were to win legislative elections the next time around and control the administration.
If this incident is indeed a result of a dispute over naming of a square, it can be said that there is a clear attempt to rule Bihar by force. The RJD seems to be frustrated due to its exile from government in Bihar.
The relative lull in the media over the killings of Hindus and BJP workers is no longer shocking. It is clear that the outrage caused by a death is directly proportional to the electoral benefits it generates. As pointed out by Union Minister Giriraj Singh, the Award Wapsi Brigade which used to describe India as unlivable for the minorities after every stray incident has gone totally silent.