'Extremely sad and serious': BSP chief Mayawati seeks govt action after 21 houses of Dalits set on fire in Bihar

Lucknow: BSP president Mayawati on Thursday demanded strict action by the Bihar government over burning down of several houses of Dalits in Nawada district of the state.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also called for full financial support by the government for rehabilitation of the poor victims.

"The incident of burning down of many houses of poor Dalits in Bihar's Nawada by the goons and ruining their lives is extremely sad and serious. The government should take strict legal action against the culprits and also provide full financial help for the rehabilitation of the victims," Mayawati posted in Hindi on X.

On Wednesday evening, 21 houses were set on fire by a group of people in Manjhi Tola under the Mufassil police station area of Nawada district in Bihar, according to local police.

No individual was hurt in the episode even though the police said preliminary investigation suggested that a land dispute could be the cause behind the incident.

Officials said the police had registered a case and launched an investigation into the matter, detaining 10 suspects by Wednesday night while a large contingent of the police was deployed in the area to prevent any flare-up.