Union Food Processing Minister Chirag Paswan on Thursday, 25 June 2026, announced he will personally travel to Rajgir in Bihar's Nalanda district to meet the families of two men — Pintu Paswan and Shravan Kumar — who were killed by a mob during the Malmas Mela fair. The minister shared that his party's Bihar in-charge and MP Arun Bharti had already visited the bereaved families to offer condolences and had pressed local authorities for a swift, impartial investigation.

In his post, Paswan wrote: 'जल्द ही मैं भी राजगीर जाकर पीड़ित परिजनों से मुलाकात कर उनकी पीड़ा को सुनूंगा' ('Soon I too will go to Rajgir, meet the bereaved families, listen to their pain, and ensure every possible effort is made to deliver justice'). The minister described the killings as a 'ruthless murder' (निर्मम हत्या) carried out by a crowd.

Context

The incident occurred at the Malmas Mela, an annual religious fair held in Rajgir, a historic town in Nalanda district known for its Buddhist and Jain heritage. Pintu Paswan and Shravan Kumar were allegedly killed by a mob at or near the fairgrounds. The exact circumstances of the killings have not yet been officially confirmed by Bihar authorities.

Arun Bharti, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) MP and the party's designated Bihar in-charge, visited the victims' families first, offering condolences on behalf of the party. He also met local administration officials and demanded a rigorous, unbiased, and time-bound probe along with the strictest possible action against those responsible.

Policy Backdrop

Mob violence at large public gatherings has drawn repeated attention from both state and central-level politicians in Bihar. National leaders from Bihar, including ruling-coalition partners, frequently intervene in law-and-order situations to press the state government — currently led by the National Democratic Alliance — for accountability and faster judicial action.

The LJP (Ram Vilas), led by Chirag Paswan, has historically positioned itself as a strong advocate for the Paswan community in Bihar, making visible outreach to affected families a core part of the party's political identity. The party is a constituent of the ruling NDA at the Centre.

Stakeholders and Impact

The families of Pintu Paswan and Shravan Kumar are the immediate stakeholders, seeking both justice and security assurances. The Bihar state administration and Nalanda district officials are now under pressure to demonstrate a credible investigative response following interventions by central-level party figures.

The incident also has wider resonance in Bihar's politically sensitive environment, where caste identity and community protection are deeply intertwined with electoral mobilisation. Demands for strict action by a Union minister carry institutional weight that local administrators are unlikely to ignore.

What's Next

Chirag Paswan has committed to visiting Rajgir shortly, a visit that will be closely watched for any announcements regarding the party's formal demands or support for the victims' families. The Bihar administration's response — including any arrests or progress reports on the investigation — will determine whether the political pressure translates into tangible accountability.

If the probe stalls or arrests are delayed, the issue is likely to escalate into a larger political confrontation between the LJP (Ram Vilas) and the Bihar state government ahead of any upcoming electoral cycle.