The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has launched an investigation into the demolition of a Dalit family’s house in Aurahi Rural Municipality-5, Siraha, to make way for a Mahayagya (grand Hindu ritual). The NHRC’s provincial office in Janakpur has initiated an inquiry into the incident.

The commission issued a statement on Thursday, confirming that a team had been dispatched to the site for monitoring and investigation. Additionally, official letters have been sent to the District Police Office, Siraha, and the Aurahi Rural Municipality for further information regarding the case.

The incident saw the house of Deepak Malik, a Dalit, being bulldozed at the orders of the rural municipality’s chairman, Shivaji Yadav, along with event organiser Bajrangi Baba and former ward chairman Dilip Yadav. The trio, accused of forcibly displacing the Dalit family, have since gone into hiding.

Following the public outcry, Chief District Officer Basudev Dahal and police chief Ramesh Pandit visited the place and the municipality office on Thursday, but the accused officials were nowhere to be found. Pandit stated that efforts are underway to bring them into contact, with the municipality’s chief administrative officer, Udityanaryan Karn, being urged to assist in locating them.

The demolition reportedly took place in preparation for the Vishnu Mahayagya, scheduled to commence on March 30. Deepak Malik and his family, who had been residing in the area for over 30 years, were evicted under the claim that their presence defiled the ritual site. The municipality’s bulldozer was used to raze their home, and even the soil from the site was removed, allegedly to purify the land.

The displaced family has taken refuge in a makeshift hut built on community school land at the edge of the village. Deepak and his wife, Anita, both sanitation workers at the rural municipality, have refrained from filing a police complaint due to fears of losing their jobs.

Their son, Arjan, expressed frustration at the discrimination his family has faced. “We were the only ones whose house was demolished. No other house was touched. What harm could our home have caused to the ritual?” he asked. “This was done simply because we are Dalits. Removing the soil from our land shows they wanted to enforce untouchability.”

Despite mounting allegations of caste-based discrimination, Rural Municipality Chairman Shivaji Yadav defended the demolition, claiming that the land was designated for an agricultural market. Former ward chairman Dilip Yadav also justified the eviction, stating that the family had been provided with an alternative home.

Meanwhile, Kabuli Paswan, a former member of the National Dalit Commission, strongly condemned the incident, calling for legal action against those responsible. He asserted that the family had been subjected to blatant caste-based discrimination and urged authorities to ensure justice for the displaced family.

Similarly, the lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Thursday urged the government to take due action against the people involved in the discriminatory activities.