Bihar’s vibrant Holi drowned in violence Tuesday as a trivial color dispute in Lorika village, Darbhanga, ignited caste wars, vehicle destruction, and police injuries. Multi-thana forces now camp amid arrests and pursuits, tallying 12+ wounded in the fray.
Core to the clash: Locals Amarjeet Sahni and Anil Chaupal, whose Holi invite at Sahni’s home devolved into casteist abuse and a tin-can beating. Rivalry between nearby Sahni Tola and Chaupal Tola fueled the fire, escalating to mob stone-pelting across Bharulli Panchayat’s Ward-9.
Dial 112 responders arrived to pandemonium, their van stoned and a constable left bleeding. The assault triggered a massive police influx from Singhwada, Simri, Kamtaul, and Jale, stabilizing the hotspot under SDPO Shubhendra Kumar Suman’s watch and BDO Vikram Bhaskar’s oversight.
Eight nabbed promptly; fugitives holed up or escaped, eluding raids. ‘Investigation deepens, culprits will pay dearly. Situation managed, but watchful,’ Suman briefed. Heavy boots on ground enforce fragile peace.
Injuries scar both sides, spotlighting entrenched divides. As Holi’s joy fades to tension, calls grow for healing measures in this Bihar backwater prone to such eruptions.