In a serious allegation that has stirred controversy in Bihar, a state minister has publicly accused the police of negligence and colluding with land mafia elements in West Champaran district. The minister has claimed that his repeated attempts to alert authorities about illegal encroachment were ignored, raising questions about law and order.
Minister's Allegations of Police Inaction
Narayan Prasad, who serves as the Minister of Disaster Management and is the MLA from the Nautan assembly constituency, made these accusations on Sunday. The minister stated that he had personally called the Station House Officer (SHO) of the Muffasil police station in Bettiah to report an encroachment on a government road and private land in the Hardiya area. According to Prasad, the SHO failed to take any immediate action on his complaint.
"When the SHO did not listen, then I informed the DSP and SP. I even asked the SP if there was anything like law and order," the minister revealed. He claimed that only after his intervention with senior officers did the SHO finally call him to inquire and visit the site of the alleged encroachment.
Sequence of Events and Assault Allegation
The minister provided a detailed timeline of the incidents. He alleged that on December 28, a land mafia group encroached upon a plot of land belonging to one Prahlad Mukhiya (plot no. 871, khata no. 5) as well as a government road. Despite being informed, the police arrived at the location four hours later. By that time, the mafia had already constructed a boundary wall around the land.
The situation escalated on January 2. The minister alleged that when his driver, Ashish Kumar, went to the site, he was assaulted and injured by members of the land mafia who were continuing work on the disputed land. Prasad stated that he immediately informed the Bettiah Superintendent of Police (SP) and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) about this violent incident.
Failure to File FIR and Political Repercussions
A major point of contention highlighted by the minister is the initial failure to register a First Information Report (FIR). He stated that although Prahlad Mukhiya had filed a formal application with the Mufussil police station regarding the encroachment, no FIR was lodged initially.
"When I spoke to the SP and DSP, the Mufussil police station filed an FIR against the encroacher, Shatrughan. This clearly shows that the police are colluding with the land mafia," Prasad asserted. He declared his intention to raise this matter in the Bihar Legislative Assembly and submit written complaints to Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha and the Bihar Director General of Police (DGP).
Official Response and Next Steps
In response to the growing controversy, Bettiah Circle Officer Amarendra Kumar provided an official update. He confirmed that the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Bettiah and other officials have conducted an inspection of the disputed land. Following orders from senior officials, the land will now be formally measured and demarcated.
Kumar stated that if the investigation confirms any illegal encroachment, the land will be vacated as per the law. This official response indicates that the administration has now initiated a formal process to address the allegations, though the minister's claims of police collusion remain a serious charge that demands further scrutiny.
The incident has cast a spotlight on the persistent issue of land disputes and alleged mafia activity in the region, testing the accountability of local law enforcement and the administration's commitment to upholding the rule of law.
