Loss of privacy, domestic distractions and health issues plague girls learning online

Representational image (Picture credit - ILO-Asia Pacific/Flickr)101Reporters spoke to a cross-section of girls enrolled in various schools in the Champaran region of Bihar, each with their unique share of woes that were taking a toll on their studies. Bettiah: Her classmates at the Bettiah-based Delhi Public School were all live on the Zoom call when class 10 student Niku Kumari's (15) voice began to shiver with anger as her face glistened with rage. Then came some choice curses that left her classmates shocked and amused. "My little brother Satyam was up to pranks and, unable to concentrate on my study, I reacted sharply. The whole class burst into laughter after I called my brother a [withheld] but ultimately I think I was the butt of the joke," Kumari said in a sheepishly low tone.  Always clad in smart clothes and stylish accessories, Taniya Praveen, a class 10 student of AG Mission, was 'outed' as a fluent Bhojpuri-speaker during an online coaching class, something that came as a shock to her fellow students who always considered her a sort of an enigma. "This despite all of us being part of the same coaching class for the past two years," said Raj Kumar, her tuition-mate. "The online classes have certainly intruded into our private lives," said Richa Kumari, a student of RL International, a Bettiah-based co-ed school. A teacher attached with a private school too conceded this point. "Drifting voices from the background is a very common thing during online classes. Occasionally, we have come across angry words being shared," said a teacher, refusing to be identified.  Many girls also complained of an increased burden of household chores, running errands and fulfilling filial duties as side effects of studying from home.  "Being at home, our contribution in household chores has increased manifold, knowingly or unknowingly. Running errands for family members in the middle of an online class isn't uncommon," said Salu Kumari, a student of class 7. "If some guest drops during class time, we are required to entertain the guest. Online study isn't taken seriously by many parents either," said another student. Apart from the online classes being conducted by private schools, the Bihar government also launched initiatives like 'Mera Doordarshan, Mera Vidhalaya' and 'Unnayan Bihar Smart Class' to provide a platform for lessons during the Covid-induced closure of academic institutions. However, with the lack of amenities like smartphones and accessibility to the internet in remote areas of the district, students and their parents continue to question the quality of education they are receiving. "It's very irritating to manage our study. Though a smartphone has been arranged by my parents, the internet is perennially slow in our area during evenings," said Sakchi Rai, a Class 9 student in Chanpatiya block of West Champaran. For many like Anshika Sinha, a student of Modern Public School at Motihari in East Champaran, online classes can only over be a stopgap arrangement. "Online and physical classes are as different as chalk and cheese," she said. When contacted, Binod Kumar Vimal, district education officer (DEO), West Champaran feigned ignorance about any challenges faced by children, especially girls, during online studies. However, Awdesh Kumar Singh, district education officer (DEO), East Champaran felt the girls were more attentive during the online classes. "We do not have any data to support this. But yes, we have feedback that girls are the best beneficiaries of our online class due to their regular attendance and patience to stay glued to the screen," he said.  Prof. Ambika Kumari, head of the Psychology Department at MJK College, said that online classes are impacting the students irrespective of their gender. "The whole concept behind online classes is to impart education. The attention among the students for the classes varies from class to class. The attention deficiency is more pronounced in low grades and hence their parents have to sit with them. One big advantage of physical classes is that they served as stress busters but that has gone missing as classes went online and as a result children tend to be more irritable," she said. Worse, with the increase in screen time, cases of specific ailments among children are rising. "Cases of somatic form disorder (SFD) and attention deficiency have become common these days. Such cases now pour in on a daily basis, a sharp surge from earlier when we'd see only a couple of cases in a month," said Dr Kumar Saurabh, a Bettiah-based noted child specialist, attached with government medical college and hospital (GMCH). "SFD is a form of mental illness that causes one or more bodily symptoms, including pain in the chest or abdomen or head. The increase in screen time among children for leisure and now, academic work has created a huge lifestyle change which has been a cause of these diseases," he added.

Bihar’s 'Shutter Katwa' gang hits shops across the country; earns 'respect' of criminals at home

This well-organised criminal outfit has a history of sweeping clean stocks of expensive electronic gadgets from shops in many states and selling them off across the border in Nepal.Bettiah: A well-organised outfit of thieves from the Ghorasahan block of Bihar's East Champaran district, popular as the Shutter Katwa ('shutter cutter') gang, has become a terror for traders dealing in high-value electronic goods in several states. Investigations into hundreds of cases registered in police stations across the country, such as Delhi's Roop Nagar, Uttarakhand's Haldwani, Rajasthan's Kotwali Dausa, Karnataka's Khade Bazaar and many others, have led to this gang.On September 17 this year, Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh Junction police registered a case of theft after 86 smartphones and several internet routers worth more than Rs 11 lakh were stolen from a shop. "The thieves’ modus operandi, revealed by the CCTV footage, pointed at the Shutter Katwa gang," investigating officer of the case, Assistant Sub Inspector Shiv Narayan, told 101Reporters. A team headed by him went to Ghorasahan in October but could not arrest any of the culprits.On January 14 this year, Rajasthan police in coordination with East Champaran police arrested three members of the Shutter Katwa gang – identified as Deepak Kumar, Mustafa Diwan and Maqbul – from Birata Chowk area in Ghorasahan in connection with the burgling of a showroom at Bhiwadi on December 3, 2020. They recovered 52 iPhones worth around Rs 50 lakh from the accused.Sub Inspector VV Bhola of the Anti-Terrorist Squad in Ahmedabad said that 98 mobile phones were stolen from a shop in Rander near Surat in October 2018. "Judging from the methods used by the thieves, police suspected the role of the Shutter Katwa gang. A five-member team headed by a sub-inspector from the crime branch went to Bihar and arrested two of the suspects," said Bhola, who was then attached to Rander police station. On February 22, 2018, a joint team of Haridwar and Raxaul police arrested two persons — identified as Bipatdas and Prabhunath Pandey, both residents of Ghorasahan — for allegedly stealing 27 iPhones and 13 tablets from a showroom in Haridwar a month ago. Police recovered six iPhones and many tablets from their possession.Akhilesh Kumar Mishra, the station house officer (SHO) of Ghorasahan police station, confirmed that police from many parts of the country had visited the block in search of the members of the Shutter Katwa gang. "Police from Uttarakhand, Telangana and Maharashtra alone have arrested at least 15 persons from this region in connection with thefts committed in their respective states," he said.A safe haven in NepalA former SHO at Ghorasahan police station, who wished to remain anonymous, cited the area’s proximity to the Nepal border as the main difficulty in busting the gang. "Many of these thieves have relatives in Nepal. After committing thefts, they sneak across the border with the booty, making it difficult for Indian forces to track them. The gang also finds selling the stolen goods easier in Nepal. Nonetheless, at least 25 thieves were arrested during my tenure at Ghorasahan police station," the officer told 101Reporters. Sources in the local police said that the Shutter Katwa gang, comprising more than 250 members from Ghorasahan block and its neighbouring villages, had around 15 groups operating in different states. Over the years, more than 100 members of the gang were arrested in Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Orissa and Maharashtra. Some of these arrests were made in cities such as Dehradun, Haldwani, Surat, Siliguri, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bhopal and Gurgaon, they said.Sub Inspector Bhola said, "They visit shops posing as customers during the day to assess the stock of electronic gadgets. If satisfied, they return at night and pry open the shutters using jacks. While some of them enter the shops and steal the goods, others cover the shutter gap by pretending to be folding bed sheets,” Bhola said. "If the gang members find CCTV cameras installed in the shop during a theft, they switch groups for their next strike. They flee the state by train immediately after committing a theft," a police officer at Hanumangarh Junction police station told 101Reporters.The gang swells, lured by money and prestige Police said the Shutter Katwa gang was formed by a small group of thieves in the mid-1980s, but it grew with time as the lure of money attracted many criminals to it. The gang, also known locally as Archa Company and Chaddar Gang, has members ranging from teenagers to 50-year-olds, they said. "Local criminals consider a membership to the gang as a matter of pride and will go to any extent to please the families of its members to gain a place in the gang," said a villager who did not wish to be named. Many members of the gang, including the notorious Belwa and his brother Chelwa who were arrested recently by Motihari police in East Champaran, have reportedly constructed huge residential and commercial buildings in Ghorasahan block. "Chelwa is wanted in 25 cases of theft registered in 10 states, even as Belwa is facing charges in 12 cases of theft," said Naveen Chandra Jha, Superintendent of Police (SP), East Champaran, adding that recovery of three kilograms of narcotic substances from their possession had added a new twist to the investigations into the gang’s operations.Villagers told 101Reporters that the outfit has its own jargon. They use the term haldi (turmeric) for gold, chuna (lime) for silver, petti (box) for money, pen for screwdriver and master for police. They train new members by deploying them for thefts in nearby towns such as Raxaul, Motihari and Narkatiaganj. They also maintain close links with other criminal gangs in the region and extend support to each other in many ways, including securing bail when a member is arrested, the villagers said.The families of Shutter Katwa gang members do not consider theft as a crime. "They consider the ‘work’ as a matter of high esteem as it fetches enough money to change their fortunes. The gang members also borrow money from fellow villagers as a good luck charm before setting out for an operation," said another villager. "Local villagers are aware of the identities of the gang members and their activities but stay silent fearing a backlash,” said a local journalist, adding that some of the members who had retired from the gang were running their own businesses in the region.

Trade resumes in the border towns of Bihar as Nepal reopens checkpoints

Citizens and businesses alike welcomed the reopening of the Indo-Nepal border at the start of October, after being closed for 18 months due to COVID-19 restrictions.Bettiah: Last December, Newlyweds Rahul Sah and Indu Kumari and their baraati (wedding guests) had to navigate the dusty and weary bylanes of Pipra Rubari village, Bettiah, on foot to cross the Indo-Nepal border before boarding a bus to the groom's hometown. Rajesh Sah, the groom's father, is a resident of Parwanipur village, Parsa district, Nepal and had thought nothing of forming a matrimonial alliance for his son with a girl from Pipra Rubari, West Champaran district, Bihar. His only oversight was that he had not anticipated Nepal to keep its border sealed. Coincidentally, on the same day, another wedding party was similarly rueing their helplessness. Carrying gifts and wedding items, Sohan Rai from Muzaffarpur was gravely worried about reaching Birgunj in Nepal, barely 7 kilometres away from the Indian border. He, eventually, had to traverse the distance on foot using the bylanes instead of the thoroughfare. Known for their shared culture and language, the cross-border marriages among the Madheshi people (citizens of Nepal who dwell in the Terai area at the foothills of the Himalayas) and those living in the bordering villages of Bihar has been a prevalent practice for centuries. This has given rise to the 'roti-beti' (bread and bride) relationship between the two countries. Though there is no official data on the number of cross border marriages, Mahesh Agrawal, President of Seema Jagran Manch in Bihar, estimates around 2000 nuptials during every wedding season in the districts on either side of the border."Since time immemorial, we have looked upon those across the border as our own," said Anil Tiwari, a resident of the Nepali town of Birgunj, whose forefathers were Indian citizens.Shuttered border halts trade, turns border towns quietBut this relationship came to an abrupt halt last year in March 2020, when both countries sealed off their respective boundaries due to the upsurge in COVID-19 cases. While India reopened its border in October last year, the Nepali government reopened their border to India only two weeks ago. Located at about 230 km from the state capital Patna, Raxaul, a town in the East Champaran district of Bihar, has virtually come alive. The otherwise deserted integrated check post (IPC) and the Bharat-Nepal Maitri pul (bridge), the main artery connecting New Delhi with Kathmandu, have returned to their original state, with the central thoroughfare bustling with a stream of vehicles from both countries. The videos emerging from Raxaul showed thick crowds in the Bank Road market area and taxi stand with the continuous inflow of citizens from both countries outside their respective borders. AK Pankaj, DSP, Immigration Department, posted at Raxaul put the number of footfalls from either side of the border at approximately 8000. "The crowd has certainly swelled compared to what it was when the border was sealed," the DSP told 101Reporters. People dwelling in villages along the shared border heaved a sigh of relief after vehicular movement resumed through the Shankaracharya gate between Indian town Raxaul and Nepal's Birgunj on October 1, 2021. The reopening has breathed a fresh lease of life into the business fraternity that had otherwise been suffering. Dhiraj Sharma once owned a successful garment business in Raxaul, Bihar. Compared to Nepal, the Raxaul market provided a wide range of commodities at cheaper rates, bringing in a steady Nepali clientele. However, the coronavirus pandemic brought his business to an abrupt halt. When the nationwide lockdown ended, Kathmandu's adamant position on keeping its border closed despite New Delhi giving the all-clear for opening India's border in October 2020 shattered Sharma's hopes to revive his shop. Under immense stress owing to recurring financial losses, Sharma had no other option but to close down his commercial establishment at the Raxaul market.A delayed reunionWelcoming the move to open the border, Raj Kumar Gupta, president of the Indo-Nepal Chamber of Commerce (INCC), said opening the border has saved 'parivaar, byaahaar and vyapaar' (family, behaviour, and business) of the two countries. "It conveys more than what meets the eye. Believe it or not, our family, behaviour, and business were at stake. Owners of around 20 to 25 establishments were forced to close down their shops due to the border staying sealed; matrimonial alliances were also affected badly owing to the months-long closure of the border," Gupta told 101Reporters. The INCC has been at the forefront of the agitation pressing for a reopening for almost a year, since the Indian government opened its border with Nepal via Raxaul on October 22, 2020. "The move will strengthen the Indo Nepal relationship further," hoped Gupta.However, Pradeep Yadav, an MP and senior Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) leader from Birgunj blamed the ruling Oli government for keeping the border sealed for 18 long months. "It was not worth calling 'border sealing'. People were crossing the border freely. Goods containers from India were regular here. However, only public transport was not allowed, which caused grave distress to the common people. This was completely the design of the Oli government to create a divide in the relationship between the two countries," Yadav told 101Reporters. Vijay Kumar Sarawagi, Mayor, Birgunj Maha Nagarpalika, echoed similar sentiments, "Yes, the much-awaited decision finally arrived, albeit late and with incomprehensive motives," he quipped. Mahesh Agrawal suspected political undertones were behind the inordinate delay in reopening the border. He said a three-layered relationship between India and Nepal existed between people to people, bureaucracy to bureaucracy and New Delhi to Kathmandu. "Yes, some forces have been growing, trying to debilitate the relationship between us," said Agrawal, not divulging more.Symbiotic business partnershipsOver the years, the markets in the bordering areas have further boosted the 'people to people' relationship. Business people here have no qualms in accepting dependence on Nepal and its people for their business. "It is better late than never," said Jai Prakash, a bicycle shop owner in the Bank Road market area. "About 80 to 90 per cent of business in the bordering areas come from Nepali nationals," said Mahesh Agrawal, who also runs a store in Raxaul. Nepali citizens are ecstatic after the opening of the border. "The Indian market is always special for so many reasons. We have an assorted range of products here. Of course, grocery items are a favourite which saves us about 20 to 25 per cent money on basket size transactions," Lal Bahadur, a resident of Birgunj in Nepal, told 101Reporters.The months of anticipation and trepidation broke into euphoria after official word confirmed the reopening of the border from the Nepal side. Crowds gathered near the Shankaracharya gate between Raxaul and Birgunj as officials and Nepali citizens greeted visitors with garlands on October 1, 2021. Cross-border traffic has been smooth since reopening without any operational hiccups as the Nepal authorities have made all provisions for thermal and antigen testing. "Nepal has opened its border, and visitors/tourists are required to fulfil formalities such as a negative RT-PCR report for COVID-19 among others," Khem Prasad Adhikari, in charge of the immigration department at Birgunj, told reporters there. 

In this 'crime-free' village in Bihar, the police haven't registered a case in several decades

Representative Image (Picture credit - Anoo Bhuyan/Flickr)Through local courts called Gomastha Bayawastha, the disputes are often resolved amicably in Katraw and never reach the police station. Bettiah: Parwati’s house in West Champaran’s Katraw village, Bihar, was not locked for four days when she was at the hospital to treat her fever and chills. When she returned home, everything was intact — no one had broken in.“The villagers here do not prefer to lock the doors when they move out of for a few days,” said Sunil Garhwal, the chief of Jamuniya panchayat that governs the village. “Locking of the door is construed a great disservice and disregard for co-villagers. However, one is at the liberty to lock their house if they are away for weeks,” he added.Katraw is located 285 km from Patna. It has about 1,500 people from various communities, like Tharu, Muslim, Mushar and Dhangar. Its jurisdiction is patrolled by the Sahodara police station. The officers here have not registered more than a single case since India became independent in 1947. “Nahi chhuwe la samantha koi kekaro (touching others belongings is a profane crime here),” said Hansa Devi, adding, “It is not as if altercations or disputes do not take place in Katraw. But, we resolve it amongst ourselves at the village level if the issue arises among ourselves”. A single case in 70 years “To the best of our knowledge, except for one road accident case, no other complaint has been registered from Katraw,” said Upendra Nath Verma, superintendent of police (SP), Bettiah.  Such has been the allure of Katraw that even former director general police of Bihar, Gupteshwar Pandey, could not stop himself from visiting the village when he was surveying West Champaran in July last year. “Everyone should draw inspiration from Katraw where no cases or FIRs have been registered so far. This (model of the village) deserves to be emulated (by other villages) so that India can shine,” Pandey said. Former director general police of Bihar, Gupteshwar Pandey, on a visit to Katraw last year (Picture sourced by Shilpi V) The peace perhaps dawns upon the hamlet due to its ingrained judicial set up. Called the Gomastha Bayawastha, it was born in early 1950s. The system was the brainchild of Bihar’s first chief minister Krishna Sinha.A Gomastha is essentially a patriarchal judicial authority — passed down from father to son — who delivers amicable solutions to the minor disputes that may arise in Katraw. A Gomastha may even penalise a person guilty of initiating a clash. Katraw, which has elected representatives in the panchayat system, seems to have unflinching faith in its Gomasthas. The village, till date, has followed the verdicts delivered by the Gomasthas. Its testimony lies in the fact that the law and order has sanctimoniously prevailed here for 75 years since India became independent.   “In Kathraw, a Gomastha is virtually regarded as demi-god, whose order is invariably acceptable to all,” said Shailendra Garhwal, the president of Bettiah Zilla Parishad.  The position of Gomastha is not recognised by the government, although the local administration is aware of its prevalence in the Tharu tribe. “The system is followed in the Tharu community for long. It underscores the people’s firm belief in the democratic system, said Garwal, who belongs to the Tharu community. “Ours is the third generation of Gomasthas,” said Vijay Kumar Gaurao who is at present the Katraw Gomastha. “I can say with a reasonable degree of confidence that no cases — either civil or criminal in nature — have been registered in the court or in the police station since India gained independence.” Local justice The court of a Gomastha bears an anachronistic, antiquated look — the villagers sit under tree or a community hall and dispense the justice after hearing the warring sides.  For instance, in July 2020 Mukesh Kumar was asked to pay a penalty of Rs 5,000 for slapping his sister-in-law. The Gomastha also demanded a written apology saying that Kumar’s actions had brought “disgrace to the women in a civilised society”. Such a punishment was meted out to Chandrika Mahato and Visheshwar Mahato, after they got into an altercation in broad daylight. Chandrika was angered after Visheshwar’s goats had grazed on his land.The dispute culminated an invitation into the Gomastha’s court, which charged each of them a fine of Rs 500 for “debilitating the social order”. The Gomastha also directed Visheshwar to pay Rs 300 to Chandrika as a compensation.An individual, who does not follow the Gomastha’s verdict, is excommunicated by others. The fine collected from the directives is spent on marriages in the village or other social obligations.The marriages are a community affair here. Invitations are sent out to every single villager, who are then bound to make arrangements for raw rice, pulses and vegetables among other eatables as a contribution.  Such social harmony is a matter of pride for villagers like Rohit Kumar and Shekhauddin. “We fix our own problems and we want to pass this legacy to the next generation,” Kumar said.@font-face {font-family:Mangal; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 2 3 3 2 2; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:32771 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB; mso-bidi-language:HI;}.MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;}

Smuggling of stolen statues from temples rampant across Bihar-Nepal border

Investigations by the police in Bihar’s West Champaran district has unearthed a smuggling trail of stolen antique statues, involving criminal gangs operating on both sides of the border. Bettiah: On April 27, Sahodara police in Bihar’s West Champaran district conducted a raid in Devgarh village and arrested four persons, including two citizens of Nepal, for allegedly smuggling a statue of Buddha from the neighbouring country. It was to be sold in India.On May 4, West Champaran's Bettiah police arrested Md. Ali Jahaan, an accused in the loot at the premises of a finance company, and seized three statues made of ashtadhatu (alloy of eight metals) and recovered 12 idols from the Muzaffarpur district.Bettiah’s Superintendent of Police, Upendra Nath Verma, confirmed the arrest of seven smugglers between April and June this year and the recovery of five statues from their possession, including two statues of Buddha. He said that police are investigating the smuggling of statues across the national border."There are several gangs smuggling statues either stolen from temples in India or ferried from Nepal," said Verma. "We are keeping a close tab on such activities and have held meetings with our counterparts in Nepal to curb such crimes," he said. Verma said that Jahaan confessed that the statues recovered from him were stolen from a temple at Motipur in Muzaffarpur district with an intent of smuggling them into Nepal. Acting on this information, a joint team of West Champaran and Muzaffarpur police conducted raids in Makhdumpur Kodariya village under Karza police station of the district and recovered 12 idols that were found buried. This was a crucial development in solving the case, he said. Harikishore Sah, a police officer at Karza police station in Muzaffarpur district, who is investigating the theft of seven antique idols of deities from Shri Ram Janaki Badi Mutt at Nariyar village, said that in February this year a few idols were also stolen from a temple that came under the jurisdiction of Jaitpur police station. On June 13, 2021, devotees found that the idols of two deities at the Ram Janaki temple in Basawariya locality of Bettiah were desecrated. This triggered a mass protest and police are investigating the hand of smugglers in this suspected attempt to steal the statues.In the past, several cases of theft of statues from temples have been reported in this region. Two statues were seized by Sahodra police in West Champaran in 2010 and 2016. A statue of Buddha was seized by personnel attached to the same police station in 2018. These statues reportedly continue to be in the custody of the Sahodra police station.Jayant Kant, Senior Superintendent of Police of Muzaffarpur, spoke to 101Reporters about these thefts, including that of a 2,600-year-old idol of Mahavir stolen from a temple at Dipakarhar village under Khaira police station limits of Jamui district in 2015. He said that incidents of smuggling of narcotics, firearms, cattle, gold and counterfeit currency notes from across the border were also being investigated in his area of jurisdiction. "The modus operandi of statue smugglers too has striking similarities to these crimes. It has three layers of operators – those who steal them, the transporters and the sellers. The statues of Hindu deities and those of Lord Buddha are priced high in the international market," said Kant. The 2,600 year-old Mahavir statue is at present in the possession of the Archaeological Survey of India. Kant said that the force was able to recover this statue because those involved in the crime could not find a buyer. "The statue’s spiritual importance to the devotees of that idol is clear from the fact that the temple received in donation about Rs. 70 lakh for its restoration on the very first day," said Kant.On the other side of the fence, police officials in Nepal confirmed only incidents of smuggling items such as cattle and gold from their country to India. "As far as stealing of idols from temples is concerned, it is a very rare incident. We, however, have a very stringent law to handle such cases in Nepal," said Bel Bahadur Pandey, superintendent of police at Parsa district of Nepal.Meanwhile, the demand for sending seized statues to the nearest museum, Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya, Bhitiharwa, has gained momentum in West Champaran with the museum authorities writing to the district magistrate and superintendent of police, seeking custody in accordance with Bihar Police Manual Act, 1978.  However, the police have a different take. "With these seizures involving the cases of theft and smuggling, the matter is sub-judice and a decision in this regard will be taken in accordance with the legal procedures," said Upendra Nath Verma, superintendent of police, Bettiah.

Monumental neglect – a national symbol submerged in floodwaters in Bihar

The Ashoka Pillar bore the brunt of neglect as floodwaters submerged the historical monument even as officials attempted to salvage the situation while taking steps to revive its famous legacy.Lauriya, Bihar: The Ashoka Pillar at Lauriya in the West Champaran district of Bihar is a symbol of national pride and a memorial of the golden rule of the Mauryan Emperor, Ashoka. However, in recent times, the monument has received a considerable amount of bad press. In complete disregard for its historical importance, the pillar has become a symbol of superstition and has been worshipped by the masses who believe that it possesses supernatural powers. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has come under severe criticism for failing to publicise and create awareness among people about the history of the pillar. In addition to these woes, for the past five monsoons, the pillar is being submerged in floodwaters, threatening irreparable damage to a national monument.Abandoned to nature's furyWhen 101Reporters visited the site at Lauriya in July (about 246 km north of the state capital of Patna and 26 km from Bettiah, the district headquarters), we found that a vast area of land was completely submerged in water from the Sikarahana river. The river had overflown owing to the regular discharge of water from Valmikinagar barrage (on the Indo-Nepal border area in Bihar's West Champaran district) and rainfall in Nepal and its catchment area. "More often than not, the pillar remains submerged in floodwaters during the monsoons. The water levels rarely recede during the rains and go below the actual position of the pillar," said Vivek Prasad, a resident of Lauriya. The locals said that the pillar has been neglected for about five years now and that no tangible efforts have been taken in its restoration. "For the past five years, the Ashoka Pillar and the entire area around it has remained submerged in water for days together during the rainy season. We are afraid that the height of the water may inflict irreversible damages to the pillar if the necessary steps are not taken. But unfortunately, nothing concrete has been done to save the situation from such a pathetic state as yet," said Sikandar Tiwari, a resident of Lauriya, echoing similar sentiments. For the past five monsoons, the area around the Ashoka Pillar becomes submerged under water, say locals, who worry about the damage to the monument (Picture credit - Shilpi V) While travelling in the area, this reporter came across high currents of water flowing over the Lauriya - Ramnagar road, barely a stone throw distance from the Ashoka Pillar. As a result, the vehicular movement on this stretch had been suspended. "The situation has become more chaotic when it rains heavily in the catchment areas, which, sometimes, raises the water level to almost 4 ft in height on the main road," said Gaurishankar Ojha, another resident living nearby. Bureaucratic bottlenecksAccording to the local community, the situation would have been saved if an under-construction bridge over the road had been completed. "For the past two years, the construction of the bridge is lying in limbo for reasons best known to the authorities concerned," said Ramnath Thakur, a resident of Belwa village in West Champaran, who is a regular visitor here. When contacted, Ram Mohan Singh, executive engineer with the Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited (BRPNNL), said the construction work of a bridge being built at a cost of over INR 8 crore, has come to a halt. "We are waiting for a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the ASI to resume the work as the construction site is very close to the historical monument (Ashoka pillar)," said Singh. “The need for the construction of the bridge was necessitated following the collapse of two culverts during a flood in 2017,” he added. HS Naik, the Superintending Archaeologist at ASI (Patna circle), pleaded helplessness. "We are aware of the waterlogging situation and apprised the higher authorities about it. This is a natural calamity. We are looking into the matter to come up with a solution," said Naik.However, another official attached with the regional office said that he is yet to visit some of the archaeological sites including Lauriya's Ashoka pillar for inspection. "Some of the sites in north Bihar are shallow and low-lying. We will see to it what can be done. Funds are not a deterrent," said the official refusing to be identified.The bridge that was to come up over the Lauriya-Ramnagar road has been lying incomplete and in limbo for the past two years (Picture credit - Shilpi V)Superstition versus historyThe lack of awareness among villagers about the historical importance of the pillar is relatively conspicuous. A large number of people believe that the structure possesses supernatural powers and deify the pillar. Devotees seek out the pillar for the fulfilment of heartfelt wishes, the cure of ailments and solace for the unhappy soul. Some offer flowers and bow their heads in reverence, while some others offer holy water and kheer- puri, a famous offering here."People dwelling around here have immense faith in the Ashoka Pillar which is popularly known as Laur Baba. It is believed that the pillar possesses power," said Sohan Das, a priest of Ram Janki temple, located barely 100 meters away from the pillar. Offering more insight into the belief system of people, Sarmatiya, a devotee, said, “Laur Baba rose vertically from the earth in yore. He has fulfilled the wishes of many and we have immense faith in him."In October, a huge fair, popularly known as Laur Mela, steals the show in the area for two months. No one can recall when or how the fair came to be celebrated."I have been seeing this fair being held in the memory of Laur Baba from my childhood. The legend has it that it was during this time that the pillar emerged in ancient days," said octogenarian Bramadev Bihari, a doyen of Bankatwa village near Lauriya.Elaborating on the historical significance of the pillar, Dr Chandrashekhar Kumar, a guest teacher with the Department of History, MJK College, Bettiah, said, “This pillar has more than one historical significance. Written in Pali language, the pillar carries orders delivered by emperor Ashoka to maintain peace in his nation after he became a follower of the teachings of Lord Buddha. It is also said that the pillar was erected in memory of Lord Buddha who is said to have visited this part of the country." On the religious rituals being performed at the site of the Ashoka pillar, Superintending Archaeologist, HS Naik said, "This is clearly a non-religious structure. We are also spreading awareness among the people about the historical importance of the site."

Hooch claims 16 lives in Bihar, families face pressure from criminals

A common thread ties all victims of the tragedy together: they last drank liquor in Hardiya village. Now, their families are being pressured to remove the village's name from their police statements.   Bettiah: When he came home drunk on July 9, Guddu Miyan (30) thought he’d rest for a while before his wife, Hasina Khatoon, returned from transplanting paddy seedlings in the fields of their village in Bihar. He lay down at around 7 pm, but a sharp pain in the stomach, accompanied by dizziness and vomiting, rendered Guddu immovable just minutes later. “He then lost his eyesight and collapsed. He died by 11 pm before we could take him to hospital,” said Md. Saheb, Guddu Miyan's brother.  Guddu is among 16 people in Lauriya and Ramnagar blocks of Bihar’s West Champaran district who are suspected to have died between July 9 and 15 of poisoning from illicitly distilled liquor. In Bihar, the sale and consumption of liquor have been banned by CM Nitish Kumar-led JDU-BJP government since 2016. The prohibition has left many habitual drinkers at the mercy of illicit liquor. A common thread ties all victims of the tragedy together: they last drank liquor in Hardiya village of Ramnagar. Like Guddu, Jowahir Miyan (50) and Taj Mohammed (60) from Sabeya village in Ramnagar met a tragic end after drinking illicit liquor. The symptoms were similar: abdominal cramps, vomiting, dizziness, and loss of eyesight. Azad Miyan (28), Jowahir’s son, said his father drank in Hardiya on July 10 and 11. “On July 12, we took him to a private doctor in Ramnagar, who referred him to Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), but he died after returning home from the clinic,” Azad said.  Taj’s wife, Kuaraisa Khatun, said he drank in Hardiya on July 9 and died a day later. As his health deteriorated in the night, Taj told his family there was something wrong in the alcohol. The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) of Champaran range, Lalan Mohan Prasad, told 101Reporters that the families of 12 out of the 16 people who had died have blamed consumption of illicit liquor for the tragedy. “They have said this in their written statement. However, the other four families have cited prolonged illness as the reason. We are investigating,” the DIG said.    Quick action followed The police have arrested 18 bootleggers and taken disciplinary action against cops who are suspected to have allowed illicit liquor trade in West Champaran. The area is divided into two police districts — Bagaha and Bettiah. “Two chowkidars (police personnel) and an officer-in-charge, K P Yadav (who had been filling in for SHO Rajeev Kumar Razak, who is on leave), have been suspended. All other personnel from Lauriya police station, including sub-inspectors and ASIs, have been sent to police lines,” said Upendra Nath Verma, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Bettiah police district.  In Bagaha police district, two chowkidars have been suspended, and show-cause notices issued to Narkatiaganj sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Kundan Kumar, Ramnagar SDPO Arjun Lal, and station house officers (SHOs) of Ramnagar and Sikarpur police stations, said Bagaha SP Kiran Kumar Gorakh Jadhav. In raids carried out in West Champaran since July 18, Police and excise department officials have seized about 3,800 litres of liquor, busted 12 illicit liquor-manufacturing units and arrested 121 people for allegedly manufacturing, hoarding and smuggling illicit liquor.   Survivors suffer too People in at least four villages of Ramnagar and Lauriya have lost their eyesight after drinking spurious liquor, according to media reports, though the district administration has confirmed only two cases.Noor Alam Khan, a 45-year-old man from Maguraha Deoraj village in Ramnagar, left for a hospital in Nepal’s Parwanipur town on July 18 to get his eyes treated. “His condition deteriorated after drinking liquor on July 9. We took him to a doctor after he complained of abdominal cramps and started vomiting. He recovered, but his eyesight began to deteriorate,” said Alam's wife, who refused to share her name. Alam is now getting treated in the region’s biggest eye hospital. Another survivor from Maguraha Deoraj, Sukhal Miyan (55), said he fell unconscious some hours after he drank liquor at Hardiya. “I was blind when I regained consciousness,” said Sukhal.  For the families of people who have died, the move to approach the police and excise department for justice has invited backlash from liquor smugglers and people who profit from the illicit trade. “We are being pressured to change the location where the deceased last drank (Hardiya village) in our statement,” said Wakil Khan (60), Taj’s brother-in-law and a resident of Sabeya.  Azad, who said he is satisfied with the police action so far, added that pressure was being built up by persons who appeared to be close associates of smugglers. “We will not buckle under any pressure," he said. 

COVID-19: 54 government teachers die in Champaran, no salaries, no ex-gratia

Many families have not been able to apply for the ex-gratia announced by the government because of the trouble involved in getting the appropriate death certificate. Motihari: “Happiness is no longer part of my life,” said Kumari Neha (30). She was tragically widowed when her husband Deepak Anand, a government school teacher succumbed to COVID-19 while being treated at Government Medical College and Hospital at Bettiah, the headquarters of Bihar's West Champaran district. It hasn't even been two years since they got married and he leaves behind a one-year-old child. He is among the 54 government teachers claimed by the virus in East and West Champaran districts since the start of the second wave in April. The state education department has initiated an exercise to determine the state-wide toll. “The compilation of data from other districts is being done. It is still at an introductory level,” said a senior government functionary, refusing to be identified. “In April and May 2021 alone, 29 of our teachers died,” informed Awdesh Kumar Singh, District Education Officer (DEO) of East Champaran. West Champaran has witnessed 25 deaths, according to DEO Binod Kumar Vimal. The districts are now staring at a huge loss to their basic education workforce when schools eventually reopen. While online classes were happening in an erratic manner, teachers had been struggling with finances either due to delayed salaries or increasing expenditures. As a result, they were often unable to pay for the treatments. Bihar Panchayat Nagar Prarambhik Shikshak Sangh (BPNPSS), a teacher’s association in East Champaran, believes that timely salaries could have prevented some deaths. The delay in salaries is typical and a delay of two months is quite common for both regular and contractual teachers.The association’s president, Amardeep Kumar, said, “Most of them are contractual teachers who died owing to a financial crunch. They were deprived of their salaries for four months, and hence they did not opt for the best medical services. As per the allotment received, the salary was paid for November, December (2020) and January (2021) — about 80 per cent of salary was received for the latter. Teachers were without payments between February and May 2021.”Stranded in the middle of a crisisPraful Kumar Mishra, District Programme Officer (Establishment) of the education department in East Champaran, confirmed the delay in salaries. “We process the payment as soon as the allotment arrives. The pending salaries have been paid towards the end of May,” he said. Teachers have confirmed that they have now received their salaries but for many families, it is too late. "Due to lack of money, my husband ignored going to the doctor and preferred to take medicines prescribed by the chemist," said Savita Kumari (42) about Ramesh Sah, a government teacher in West Champaran.  “But his health deteriorated suddenly and he had to be admitted to GMCH on May 1. He passed away the following day before he could even be tested,” she says. Representational imageThe mounting death toll has expedited the demand for relief. Premchand (he goes by one name only), State Spokesperson and Media In-Charge of Bihar Rajya Prathamik Shikshak Sangh, said, “The number of deaths due to COVID-19 is high. We are compiling a list from all the districts. A demand for immediate compensation and jobs for dependents of each of the deceased has been made.”Sanjay Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary of the State Education Department, had announced in May that dependents of all the teachers who died due to COVID-19 are entitled to claim an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh. However, when asked how many people have received the amount so far, the district officials chose to remain tight-lipped. BNPSS president Kumar, said families from East Champaran are still knocking at the doors of government offices to claim the promised ex-gratia relief and compassionate appointment. “Paperwork is progressing at a snail’s pace,” he added.Death and confusionThe grieving families have to jump through bureaucratic hoops for the ex-gratia and it has been especially hard to get proper death certificates.  “An RT-PCR or antigen report is mandatory for declaration of a COVID-related death,” according to Dr Srikant Dubey, Deputy Superintendent of GMCH in Bettiah. But in many cases, these tests were not conducted.The family of Ajay Gupta, a contract teacher posted at Englishiya in West Champaran, is yet to come to terms with his death on May 13. His wife, Vibha Gupta — a mother to two — is too deep in mourning to deal with paperwork. The responsibility has fallen on Gupta’s father, Rameshwar Prasad, who said that they are yet to receive his son’s death certificate.The family have not been able to procure one since the RT-PCR or antigen test, required for the document, was not done. This death too occurred at the GMCH at Bettiah. At that time, the family was in a panic over his deteriorating health and didn’t have the time to get an RT-PCR test done. "We left everything for the doctors to decide. For now, we have submitted all the documents to the government, but cannot guess what the investigation report will say."Rajesh* (name changed to protect the identity) was a teacher who was being treated at GMCH before his death. A family member, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the CT scan results are available and Remdesivir was administered to the patient. "Why is the death certificate being denied when all the treatments were provided to the patient as per COVID-19 protocol?” they ask.