Janakpurdham – Police have arrested Ram Kishor Yadav, the ward chairperson of Kalyanpur Municipality Ward No. 8 in Siraha district, on charges of demolishing the homes of five Dalit families in Arang village.

According to police, the victims filed a complaint against 13 individuals, including Ward Chair Yadav, accusing them of involvement in the attack under criminal disturbance charges. Following the complaint, Yadav was summoned for questioning and subsequently taken into custody for investigation, confirmed Siraha Superintendent of Police Anantaram Sharma.

The complaint also named several others allegedly involved in the vandalism and looting, including locals Rajkumar Singh, Prabhas Singh, Nitesh Singh, Shailendra Singh, Kailash Singh, Ganesh Kamati, and Mustafa Rayen. SP Sharma stated that, so far, police have arrested Yadav and two others, while the search for the remaining suspects continues.

SP Sharma added that if further individuals are found to be involved during the investigation, they too will face legal action.

The incident occurred around 5 p.m. on Friday, when the houses of five Dalit families living north of a large pond in Arang were reportedly demolished and looted in the presence of police officers. The victims have been identified as Shobhit Paswan, Binde Paswan, Ashok Paswan, Rajkumar Paswan, and Raslal Paswan.

According to the victims, a group of about 20 to 25 people led by Rajkumar Singh, Prabhas Singh, Shailendra Singh, and Nitesh Singh carried out the attack, destroying property and stealing belongings. The attackers fled after reinforcements from Mirchaiya Police and the Armed Police Force arrived at the scene.

Locals said the attack was linked to an earlier dispute during Vishwakarma Puja on September 16, when some non-Dalit locals, including Prabhas Singh, clashed with members of the Dalit community over an orchestra program held at Arang Bazaar. After the Dalit group lodged a police complaint over that altercation, the accused allegedly retaliated by destroying their homes.