Rural Municipality Chair and Janamat Party Leader Detained Over Caste-Based Discrimination Incident

The police have detained Shivaji Yadav, Chair of Aurahi Rural Municipality, and Dilip Yadav, a former ward chair and leader of the Janamat Party, on Friday evening in connection with a case of caste-based discrimination against a Dalit family.

The incident involves the demolition of the house belonging to Deepak Malik, a member of the Dalit community, reportedly in preparation for a Mahayagya ritual in Aurahi. According to Madhesh Province Police Chief and Deputy Inspector General of Police Lalmani Acharya, the two individuals were taken into custody for investigation, and further action will be decided following a formal complaint from the victim’s side.

The house, located in Ward No. 4 of Aurahi Municipality, was reportedly demolished by a JCB machine brought by Chair Yadav himself. After demolishing the structure, the soil from the land was also cleared, sparking significant protests and allegations of caste-based discrimination.

In response to the incident, the Ministry of Home Affairs summoned Siraha’s Chief District Officer, Basudev Dahal, for not responding promptly to the situation. Additionally, the National Human Rights Commission and the National Dalit Commission have conducted field investigations to assess the matter.

The issue was also raised in the House of Representatives, where lawmakers demanded the formation of a parliamentary inquiry committee and urged the government to take immediate action against those responsible. The incident has drawn widespread criticism, highlighting ongoing issues of caste-based discrimination in the country.