KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Home Affairs has transferred Basudev Dahal, the Chief District Officer (CDO) of Siraha district.
The Home Ministry has appointed Bishwaprakash Aryal, the Chief District Officer of Kapilvastu, as the new CDO of Siraha.
Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has directed the police to conduct an independent investigation into the removal of Dalit families to facilitate the Mahayagya in the district.
Deepak Malik (Dom), who had been living on the roadside for an extended period, has now been relocated to a new hut.
The “Shri Shri 108 Shri Bishnu Mahayagya” is being held at the same location from March 30.
At the request of Mahatyagi Bajrangi Baba, believed to be the mastermind behind the Yagya, the hut of Deepak Malik, considered “untouchable”, located near the Mahayagya site, was demolished by Municipal Corporation Chairman Shivaji Yadav using the municipality’s JCB earlier this week.
In addition to demolishing Malik’s house, two feet of soil from the site was dug up, claimed to be soil touched by untouchables, and dumped into the river.
After displacing the Malik family, a two-room house with a tin roof was constructed on approximately 2 acres of land near Shree Sundar Janata Secondary School in Aurahi.
Deepak, his wife, two sons, two daughters, and a daughter-in-law – a total of seven people – now reside in this new house.
Previously, the municipality had built a two-room concrete house under the Janata Awas program five years ago on the land where the Malik family had lived for 25 years.
After the house was demolished and they were relocated, the Malik family faces significant difficulties. Though a hut was provided, there is no water source or electricity. Anita Malik, Deepak’s wife, shared, “They have built a house with wood, leaves, and thatch, just like ours.”
Anita Malik explained, “We’ve moved here from the place we’ve lived for years. Now, I’m here with my young children, and there is no electricity, no water. I’ve been begging the village for water for a month. Without electricity, I have to cook during the day. I’m struggling in these conditions.”
Rural Municipality Chairman Shivaji Yadav and the former mayor of Ward No. 5 have stated that the Malik family should vacate their new residence. Anita Malik, Deepak’s wife, revealed that Ward Chairman Dilip Yadav pressured them to move.
“We were told to leave in the name of the Yagya. When my husband and I weren’t home, they demolished the house with a dozer. What could we, the helpless, do to stop it?” she said.
Deepak and Anita Malik’s family includes their 17-year-old son Arjun, their newlywed daughter-in-law, 13-year-old daughter Kiran Kumari, 10-year-old daughter Preeti, and 8-year-old son Akash Malik.
Municipal Chairman Shivaji Yadav admitted to demolishing the Malik family’s house, stating, “A tender has been floated for Rs 30 million to set up an agricultural market there. A wall must be built on all sides, which is why the house was demolished.”
Following media reports, District Police Office Chief Ramesh Pandit conducted an inspection of the site and ordered an immediate halt to the Mahayagya. He emphasized that this Mahayagya had become controversial, and the central government has directed its suspension.
Superintendent of Police Pandit said that when he arrived at the site on Thursday afternoon, neither the Mahayagya organizer nor the rural municipality chairman could be found.
He and CDO Vasudev Dahal also visited the rural municipality office, but the individuals were absent, suggesting they had fled.
Pandit confirmed that the rural municipality’s Chief Administrative Officer, Udityanarayan Karna, has been instructed to contact the three individuals who are now missing.
Bajrangi Baba, the priest overseeing the Mahayagya, had reportedly sprinkled water on the site, claiming it would sanctify the area. Dalit rights activists have condemned this act as a violation related to untouchability.
Activists are calling for the government to take legal action against Bajrangi Baba, Municipal Chairman Shivaji Yadav, and former Ward Chairman Dilip Yadav. They have also urged the National Human Rights Commission and the National Dalit Commission to investigate the incident.
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