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Bettiah (West Champaran): Serious allegations are being leveled against Gaunaha police station, located on the Nepal border in Bihar, a highly sensitive area. RTI activist Acharya Nitin Kumar Ravi has accused the station of protecting Mujammil Sheikh and his associates in a case involving land grabbing and crop looting, with police collusion. The station is alleged to have become a hub of corruption during the tenure of former station in-charge Rajiv Nandan Sinha, who was recently suspended on corruption charges while serving as Raxaul station in-charge. Demands are now rising for re-investigation of old cases handled during Sinha’s time, as the station’s report has allegedly misled the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

Suspension of Former Station In-Charge Rajiv Nandan Sinha: Exposure of Corruption

In May 2025, Champaran Range DIG Harikishore Rai suspended Raxaul station in-charge Inspector Rajiv Nandan Sinha. The allegations were that Sinha took goods worth lakhs from local businessman Tunna Prasad on credit but did not pay. When the businessman demanded payment, Sinha implicated him in a false kidnapping case. Following the businessman’s complaint, the DIG personally investigated, found the charges true, and immediately suspended Sinha, initiating departmental proceedings.

This suspension raises questions about Sinha’s tenure as Gaunaha station in-charge. Nitin Kumar Ravi claims that under Sinha, the station was completely a center of corruption. Multiple complaints were filed in Gaunaha, but no action was taken. Now that Sinha’s corrupt character has been exposed, re-investigation of old cases during his tenure—especially the land dispute involving Mujammil Sheikh—is essential.

The Land Grabbing Case: Dispute Began During COVID Period

The root of the dispute lies in April 2021, when Nitin Kumar Ravi’s entire family was infected with COVID-19, and their house was declared a micro-containment zone and sealed. During this time, Mujammil Sheikh (father: Salim Sheikh, village: Gamhariya, Gaunaha), along with Saddam Sheikh, Sajjad Sheikh, his uncle, cousin, and other anti-social elements, attacked the caretakers of the land—Ramsharan Mahto and Anil Kaji—forcing them to leave through assault and threats.

The family immediately informed then-DM Kundan Kumar via WhatsApp. After COVID was controlled, a board was installed on the land stating: “This land is not for sale; ownership rights belong to Bamdev Jha.” Prabhat Kumar Jha applied to the Gaunaha circle officer for land measurement, mentioning Plot No. 02, Khesra 389, Thana No. 28, area three bighas. The land is jointly registered in the names of Pandit Umakant Jha and Bamdev Jha. Lagaan receipts, pattas, and documents were attached. Applications were also submitted to SP Bettiah, DSP Narkatiaganj, Circle Officer, and SDM Narkatiaganj.

On June 30, 2021, Prashant Jha filed a complaint at Gaunaha police station regarding forcible occupation and threats, but the station did not provide a receiving acknowledgment. As per Nitin, the station has no practice of giving receipts for applications.

Police Negligence: From Crop Looting to Hiding CCTV Footage

In September 2021, Circle Officer Amit Kumar called for original documents in a public hearing (janata darbar). On September 4, 18 documents were submitted, including a copy of a 1978 complaint. Still, no action was taken.

On October 15, 2021, Mujammil’s men looted the crop. A complaint with video evidence was submitted, but then-station in-charge Rajiv Nandan Sinha dismissed it as a janata darbar matter. On October 16, Mujammil came to the station in-charge’s chamber during janata darbar and, during an argument, confessed to attempting to create a fake patta. The entire incident was captured on CCTV (from 11 am to 3 pm), where Mujammil admitted to returning the crop and apologizing. Footage was requested via RTI but not provided.

Later, a minor theft FIR was registered, but names were changed—Nitin Kumar Ravi to Nishchit Kumar Singh, and father Jaishankar Jha to Jaishankar Singh. This was confirmed when documents were obtained from court. RTI responses were not given.

Contradictory Reports: Allegations of Misleading the PMO

The janata darbar ran from 2021 to 2024. Mujammil could not produce any proof of being a sharecropper (bataidar). In one letter, Suryakant Jha was called the owner; in another, merely a claimant. Circle Officer Amit Kumar issued a 2022 letter stating Mujammil was given the land on sharecropping, but RTI revealed no name was mentioned in the investigation.

The station prepared a report in Mujammil’s favor without investigation and sent it to the PMO. Nitin alleges the station is issuing different letters to correct previous mistakes in the accused’s favor. Trees were cut, crops looted repeatedly, but no FIR was registered. Despite fees paid for measurement, no date was fixed.

Nitin wrote to Bihar DGP demanding FIR against Mujammil, Salim, Saddam, and Sajjad. Former SI Vivek Kumar Balendu (now station in-charge) told media he had no knowledge of the case, despite having written reports earlier.

Mujammil’s Influence: Connections and Threats

Mujammil is a petty contractor with Narayani Construction Private Limited. He uses the company owner’s IAS son-in-law’s name to pressure the station and circle office. Allegations include brokerage using local leaders’ names and land grabbing with anti-social elements. Threats were issued that if the family comes to harvest, women will be used to harvest and false cases filed to send them to jail.

Call for Justice in a Sensitive Area

Gaunaha is a tribal-dominated, sensitive block bordering Nepal. Corrupt officers here are a cancer for the poor seeking justice. Nitin said the pain from the station and circle office exceeds that from COVID. Hundreds of applications/RTIs filed, but no justice. Demand for re-investigation by new station in-charge and circle officer.

This case is not just a land dispute but a question of police administration’s credibility. If even the PMO is being misled, the concern is grave. High-level departmental investigation is needed so truth emerges and the guilty are punished.

Bangladesh: which recently witnessed a turmoil following the demise of a young radical leader Sharif Osman Bin Hadi amid anti-India rhetoric, now gradually returns to normalcy, as the south Asian nation also prepares for its next general election scheduled for 12 February 2026. The highly sought after polls, as the sitting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina faced an overthrow in the backdrop of a student-led mass uprising in July-August 2024, however misses the participation of Hasina’s party Awami League, which used to rule the Muslim majority country of 170 million people for several years.

The ousted premier along with thousands of her party men continue to stay in neighbouring India even after she faces a death sentence by a Bangladeshi court for her crimes against humanity during last year’s rebellion that resulted in the casualties of over 1400 individuals including the minors. Ignoring repeated official communiqués from the current interim regime led by Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka, India still remains non-committal over her repatriation. It caused a strain on diplomatic relations between Dhaka and New Delhi, and lately Bangladesh’s bilateral ties with the billion plus nation have only worsened.

Many anti-Hasina campaigners rumoured that the Hadi’s killers entered the Indian territory soon after the shooting attack in Dhaka on 12 December, following which the Inqilab Mancha leader was later flown to Singapore for advance-treatment but he succumbed to injuries on 18 December evening. The prime accused Faisal Karim Masud, who was associated with Chhatra League, the student wing of Awami League, continues to be traceless and a large section of Bangladeshi nationals believe with no justification that he was receiving support & hospitality from New Delhi. Thus the entire fury went against India and motivated elements stepped up activities targeting the Hindu families in different parts of Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, the horrific mass killing of Deepu Chandra Das, 27, a garment worker in Bhaluka of Mymensingh locality by an angry mob alleging an unconfirmed derogatory remarks against the Islam on 18 December, and Uttam Kumar Barman, 45, a grocery shop owner of Rangpur locality with same allegation of blasphemy on 13 December aroused massive protests in India. The agitators demonstrated their anger in front of all Bangladesh diplomatic missions demanding justice to the victims and ensuring security to the non-Muslims in the country. The interim government firmly stated that the killing of the Mymensingh worker was a heinous criminal act with no justification. Recently, education adviser Prof CR Abrar visited the family of Deepu to convey the government’s sympathy and assurance of support during this difficult time. He reaffirmed the authority’s unwavering commitment to the rule of law and informed that over 10 people were arrested in connection with the crime.

In a recent report, the Brussels-based International Crisis Group (ICG) pointed out that Hasina’s presence in India has been a major factor in the simmering tensions between the two neighboring countries. Almost immediately after taking office, the interim government began pushing for Hasina’s extradition under a 2013 treaty, but the Indian officials were never likely to agree to send her back, added the report. Probably New Delhi did not prefer to ‘look like an unreliable ally to other governments in the region’ by her extradition and hence it staunchly supports Hasina. Dr Yunus personally urged Prime Minister Modi to prevent the disgraced premier from making political statements while in India, warning that her interventions in Bangladeshi politics emerged as an unfriendly gesture. His remarks were not well received by New Delhi and Bangladesh further aggrieved for allowing thousands of Awami League activists to undertake political activities from Kolkata and New Delhi, stated the conflict prevention organization.

Recently, Hasina came out with a critical comment over the current turmoil in Bangladesh accusing the Yunus-led interim government as a failed entity. She termed the tragic killings as a reflection of lawlessness that has become the norm where the interim government either denies it or remains powerless to address it. Alleging that the current authority put ‘extremists’ in top positions, released convicted terrorists from prison and allowed international terrorists to play roles in public life, Hasina also blamed it for the strained relations with India.

Hasina also rejected any call to return back to Bangladesh ‘to face political assassination’ until a legitimate government is installed in Dhaka that supports an independent judiciary. She did not forget to offer thanks to New Delhi for its continued hospitality since her departure from Dhaka last year. India’s stand on Hasina’s stay is clear which is guided by its civilizational ethos and humanitarian tradition of offering refuge to individuals facing circumstances of grave distress or existential threat. New Delhi had earlier sent a strong message demanding justice for Deepu saying that India remains concerned over the deteriorating security situation in Bangladesh affecting the religious minorities.

But the question that arises is, why Hasina should not tender an apology to the Sanatani Hindu society as she too failed to protect the Hindus and other minority families (but pretending to be their saviour always) during her long tenure as the premier of Bangladesh. Initially she was reported to prepare moving to a third country, but till date none has offered asylum to the lady and not even appreciates New Delhi for rescuing Hasina from a possible death in Ganabhawan on 5 August 2024. Hasina remains compelled to stay in a Hindu majority country for more than a year as no nation across the world has come forward supporting Hasina in her time of distress. Should it not be her first priority to beg forgiveness from the Hindus in India!