A violent clash between two tribal factions over a land dispute erupted at Anditola village under Dhamdaha police station in Purnea, Bihar, on Saturday, 16 May, leaving at least 11 people injured — including four police personnel — and damaging three police vehicles. The confrontation, which began around 7.30 am, escalated rapidly from a localised altercation into a full-scale mob attack on responding officers.

How the Violence Unfolded

According to an official spokesperson of the Purnea Police, responding officers discovered that two individuals — Babulal Soren and Ashok Soren — had been taken hostage by one faction and assaulted with sharp-edged weapons. Efforts by police to rescue the two men triggered a further surge in violence, with an agitated mob turning on the officers themselves.

Miscreants attacked police personnel and damaged three vehicles during the operation. One patrol vehicle's windshield was smashed with sticks while officers were attempting to evacuate the injured. The incident marks a serious breakdown of law and order in what officials described as a rapidly deteriorating ground situation.

Casualties and Medical Response

Two members from one group sustained serious injuries and were referred to GMCH Purnea for treatment. Five members of the opposing group were also injured and shifted to the Primary Health Centre (PHC). All injured were initially stabilised at the Sub-Divisional Hospital in Dhamdaha.

Among the police personnel injured were SHO Ravishankar and Dial-112 driver Kundan. The Purnea police spokesperson confirmed that the officers sustained injuries during the rescue operation but described them as minor.

Senior Officials Respond

Senior district officials, including SDO Anupam, SDPO Sandeep Goldy, and DSP Shailesh Pritam, rushed to the village with reinforcements drawn from nearby police stations. Purnea Superintendent of Police Sweety Sehrawat subsequently arrived at the site to personally review the situation and oversee the investigation.

Authorities brought the situation under control after sustained efforts. Senior officers continued to camp at the site as a precautionary measure, with officials stating that law and order had been restored to normal in the area.

Investigation Underway

A dedicated police team has been formed to identify and arrest those responsible for the violence, with raids already underway. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team visited the scene and collected evidence to support the investigation.

'Police personnel sustained minor injuries during the rescue operation in the village. A patrol vehicle was attacked with sticks, damaging the windshield. Five members of the opposing group are admitted to the PHC. Law and order are under control, and raids are underway to arrest the accused,' the Purnea police spokesperson said. The case highlights the persistent tension over land rights in tribal pockets of northern Bihar, where such disputes have historically turned violent with limited early intervention.