In August, seven girls belonging to mahadalit families were raped in villages under Mukhdumpur assembly constituency. Police has recorded only four cases.
Mukhdumpur is in Jehanabad district, once troubled by left-wing extremism. It is the home turf of former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi.
The NDA has blamed the Nitish Kumar government’s liquor policy in 2005 for the worsening law and order. Ironically, the architect of this excise policy was former finance minister Sushil Kumar Modi. The policy had worked. Bihar’s excise revenue jumped to a record Rs 2,765 crore in 2012-13 from Rs 535 crore in 2007-08.
While BJP leaders are silent on the liquor front, HAM leaders have accused Nitish Kumar of pushing rural people into excessive alcoholism, ruining scores of families and risking the lives of women.
“It’s a deliberate attempt to incapacitate the dalits and mahadalits by making liquor easily available to them,” Chunnu Sharma, national committee secretary, said. “Since mahadalits support Manjhi, the police seem to be following the Nitish government’s diktat not to listen to their pleas.”
Jehanabad police superintendent Aditya Kumar defended his force. “It is difficult to track the culprits since FIRs in all rape cases are against unknown people. We have nevertheless made an arrest besides destroying many illegal hooch dens.”
{{/usCountry}}Jehanabad police superintendent Aditya Kumar defended his force. “It is difficult to track the culprits since FIRs in all rape cases are against unknown people. We have nevertheless made an arrest besides destroying many illegal hooch dens.”
{{/usCountry}}Bihar State Women Commission ex-chairperson Manju Prakash had criticised the government for promoting uncontrolled alcoholism, following which Nitish Kumar promised to ban liquor if his government retains power.