Revenge-driven killings are rife in several districts of Madhesh province, leaving many families shattered and communities in fear.

Poonam Devi Yadav, aged 41, of ward 7 of Brindaban Municipality, Rautahat, has been devastated since her 14-year-old son Krishna Prasad Yadav was murdered by neighbours over an old feud. Krishna, known for making TikTok videos, was lured out of his home by neighbour Nagendra Sahani under the pretext of filming a TikTok video.

According to police, Sahani hatched the murder plan because Krishna’s father Suraj Raya Yadav had testified against Nagendra's younger brother in a previous kidnapping case. Krishna was shot twice and killed near the Chandi river on April 18. The suspects used Krishna’s motorcycle to flee and attempted to destroy evidence, but were eventually arrested. The grieving mother says justice will only be served when all culprits involved in the heinous crime are punished.

The enmity between the Yadav and Sahani families started years earlier. In 2021, Suraj Raya Yadav had testified in an abduction case where Sahani family members were accused of kidnapping a brick kiln operator. After that, tensions escalated, ultimately leading to Krishna’s murder.

“Krishna was murdered to take revenge as his father once testified against Sahani’s brother Dharmendra, who was detained on the abduction charge,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajan Karki of Area Police Office in Garuda.

On April 24, 2024, three-year-old Riya Kumari Yadav was killed by her neighbours in ward 18 of Siraha Municipality following a dispute. She went missing while playing outside her home, and her body was later found hidden in a bag on a neighbour's field. Police arrested 47-year-old Sona Devi Yadav and her daughter, 25-year-old Pooja Yadav, while the main suspect, Dhanik Lal Yadav, initially fled but later surrendered and was released on bail. The victim’s father, who was working abroad, accuses the legal system of weakening the case against the culprits.

In another case from Mirchaiya in Siraha district, 25-year-old Shiva Kumar Yadav, who worked at a cement factory, was murdered in 2021. Police investigation showed that he was murdered by his own cousin, Bishnu Yadav and accomplice Indra Dev following a family dispute while Bishnu was serving a prison sentence on drug-related charges. After killing Shiva Kumar, the perpetrators demanded ransom from his family over telephone, but were soon arrested. Bishnu remains in jail, while Indra Dev has been released.

In Pipra, Mahottari, a 19-year-old youth named Basant Paswan was killed over a petty dispute during a local fair in October, 2023. His neighbours, visiting relatives Dipak and Amit Malik from India, stabbed him over a disagreement involving a fake gold necklace bought at the fair. Dipak is currently in prison while Amit, being a minor, has been sent to a juvenile center.

Similarly, in ward 3 of Bishnu Rural Municipality in Sarlahi, 36-year-old Renudevi Paswan was killed by her brother-in-law following a family quarrel on April 26 this year. He attacked her with a sharp weapon after a longstanding domestic dispute. The suspect was arrested at the crime scene and is now in jail.

In Dhanusha’s Laxminiya Rural Municipality-5, Anjali Devi Yadav’s decomposed body was found buried under her home’s prayer room in February this year. Her husband Hariram Yadav, initially claimed she had run away but later confessed to killing her during a dispute. Hariram, who was also known to abuse drugs, fled with their 10-month-old daughter but was eventually arrested.

In another case from Parsa, 19-year-old Ishal Prasad Kurmi went missing after telling his father he was going to work on February 19, 2025. His body was found four days later in a local river. Police discovered that his friends Arun Kumar Yadav, Mukesh Prasad Yadav, and Muna Tiwari had killed him following a dispute over a gambling debt of just Rs3,500. Mukesh confessed to the crime and was sent to juvenile detention due to his age, while Arun and Muna were released on bail.

Police data reveal a disturbing trend—killings in Madhesh are increasing sharply, often over minor disputes.

Chief District Officer of Rautahat, Binod Kumar Khadka, stated that even minor disputes among neighbours are increasingly escalating into acts of murder, driven by motives such as revenge, love affairs, financial disputes, unemployment, and personal vendetta. "It has become essential to raise awareness among the younger generation," he said. "I believe we need to include education about crime and its consequences in school curriculum. Conflicts, misunderstandings and disagreements between relatives, families, and neighbours are leading people to commit extreme acts like murder. Preventing such incidents must start with educating our youth,” said Khadka.

According to the Madhesh Province Police Office in Janakpur, 93 murder incidents occurred in 2020-21. The number rose to 96 in 2021-22, 106 in 2022-23, and 128 in the fiscal year of 2023-24. Among the 128 victims last year, 89 were male and 39 female. Dhanusha recorded the highest number of homicides at 21, followed by Siraha at 20, Rautahat and Parsa at 18 each, Saptari at 17, Bara at 15, Sarlahi at 10 and Mahottari at 9.

The rising violence has spread fear among the public. "People have become unable to control their anger, turning small disputes into deadly confrontations," said Anant Koirala, a Rautahat-based civil society leader. "We urgently need social reform and awareness."

(With input from Binay Aazad in Siraha)