In a barbaric act, the husband of a Mukhiya, Jainendra Mandal, was burnt alive by a group of tribals allegedly over a land dispute at Kishunpur Balwa village under Dhamdaha police station area in Purnea district on Friday.
At least 35 tribals, including 20 women, have been arrested in this connection.
Purnea District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma told The Pioneer that it could not be immediately ascertained whether the incident was the fallout of a land dispute. He said that the deceased who was the owner of a brick kiln was also having a tussle with another kiln owner on the issue of cutting soil for the purpose of brick making.
The DM said that the business rival might have instigated tribals to settle score with the deceased by taking the advantage of the land dispute between Jainendra Mandal and tribals.
The bone of contention between Jainendra Mandal and tribals was 17 acre of land, which was legally under the possession of the deceased. Tribals are, however, insisting that the plot belongs to them as they have been living on it for the last several decades.
Superintendent of Police of Kishanganj Manoj Kumar, who is SP incharge of Purnea, said that the deceased, Kishanpur-Baluwa Panchayat Mukhiya Chamo Devi’s husband was first beaten and subsequently burnt alive by tribals.
Tribals armed with bows and arrows attacked Jainendra Mandal while he was at his brick kiln. A rifle belonging to the deceased was also recovered from the possession of a tirbal woman. The police could not recover more than some burnt bones of the deceased from the spot where an eerie silence prevails after the incident.
Further investigation is on, he added.