Siraha, Oct. 24 -- The house of a Dom family living on public land for nearly three decades in ward 5 of Aurahi Rural Municipality, Siraha, was bulldozed on February 22 under the supervision of local officials.

The family of Deepak Mallik, who had been residing on the land for about 30 years, lost their home overnight when a bulldozer was used to clear the area. The demolition was allegedly carried out in the presence of Rural Municipality Chairperson Shivaji Yadav and former ward chair Dilip Yadav.

The stated reason for the demolition was that a Mahayagya (grand Hindu ritual) was to be held on the same land from March 30, and the organisers claimed the presence of the Dom family made the area "impure." The concrete house, constructed u...