Six thatched rooms of three Dalit families, who were staying on a Government land at Nasidipur village under Kendrapada Town police station limits, were set ablaze allegedly by a former local councillor with the help of a fellow villager and their associates. Those rendered homeless were Pagala Jena, Manu Jena and Tukuna Jena. According to the victims, they had been staying on the Government land for over a year. On Wednesday night at about 10 pm, Rashmi Ranjan Dash and former councillor Madha Sethy of Nasidipur and their associates allegedly in an inebriated state came near their houses and started scolding them with filthy languages. They threatened them to leave the Government land or face dire consequence. Meanwhile, while they were sleeping, Dash, Sethy and their associates allegedly torched their houses. When the people inside came out, the miscreants fled the spot. Kendrapara town police got an FIR against Dash and Sethy and a few others. An inquiry was on.