Six of a family burnt alive in Bihar

The family, which had earlier refused to withdraw a theft case, was burnt alive by armed men in Bihar's Raghopur.

A woman along with her five children was burnt alive in Raghopur block of Bihar's Vaishali district in the wee hours on Sunday for refusing to withdraw a theft case against three persons, police said.

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Superintendent of police Preeta Verma told PTI that the wife of one Vijendra Mahto and her five children were burnt alive by armed men who set ablaze their house at Rampur-Shyamchand village of the district at around 1 am.

Mahto had lodged a case of theft of his buffalo in September last year in which Jagat Rai, Wazir Rai and Ajay Rai were named accused.

Jagat Rai was reportedly pressuring Mahto to withdraw the case and had threatened the latter with dire consequences if he did not do so.

Jagat Rai, who was recently released on bail in the case, and his henchmen allegedly went to the house of Vijendra Mahto last night and commanded him to withdraw the case. As Mahto refused to obey his diktat, all seven members of the family were locked inside their thatched house, which was set on fire, Verma said.

While Vijendra with severe burn injuries has been hospitalised, the other six perished in the fire.

One person has been arrested in connection with the incident but Jagat Rai, the main accused, was absconding. Raids are being conducted to apprehend those involved in the gruesome killing, the SP said.

The area falls in the assembly constituency of former chief minister and currently the leader of the opposition Rabri Devi.