By Imran Khan
Patna : A Dalit man in a Bihar village was blinded with acid poured into his eyes by the muscle-flexing husband of a village head and his henchmen – all for demanding a bit of the government flood relief to feed his two hungry children.
Shiv Kumar, of Tamoria village in flood-hit Madhubani district, is undergoing treatment at a government hospital, but doctors say there is no hope of him getting his vision back.
Shiv Kumar, in his late 20s and the father of two small daughters, was abused and threatened by Kapileshwar, the husband of the village mukhiya, for demanding flood relief and was then blinded with acid poured into his eyes.
“The mukhiya’s husband Kapileshwar and his henchmen forcibly poured acid in both my eyes. I will not be able to see this colourful world again, I am now blind,” Shiv Kumar told IANS from his hospital bed at Darbhanga Medical College and hospital.
Kapileshwar, the husband of Tomaria village panchayat mukhiya, is known for his muscle flexing. He was village head before his wife was elected the chief two years ago.
Shiv Kumar said he was in great pain.
“I had merely demanded flood relief as my children were hungry for two days and there was no work in my flood-hit district,” he said.
Shiv Kumar said that when he was told by villagers that the government-sponsored flood relief of 25 kg food grains was being distributed at the house of the panchayat head, he too went to get his share.
“I went to the house of the mukhiya but her husband asked me to return empty handed saying the flood relief stock was exhausted. But when I insisted because I was yet to get relief, he threatened to kill me and assaulted me and poured acid into my eyes,” Shiv Kumar said.
Shiv Kumar was first admitted to a hospital near the village, and later shifted to another hospital at Jhanjharpur. But when his condition deteriorated, the doctors referred him to a larger hospital in Darbhanga.
The shocking incident is a clear sign of the prevailing state of lawlessness in Bihar.
Police Inspector General Ratan Lal Kanaujia has directed Madhubani district superintendent of police Amritraj to inquire into the matter and submit a report immediately.
Kanaujia has ordered the police official to arrest the culprits.
Over 390 people have died and 15 million affected by floods in Bihar so far this year.