Varanasi: A small land dispute in Varanasi’s Chitauna village has snowballed into a caste conflict, with political parties and caste based organisations accused of inflaming tensions for their own gains. What began as a clash between two neighbours on July 5 over half a biswa of land and bamboo groves has now spiralled into a wider Rajbhar vs Thakur showdown, dragging the entire village into social unrest.
The initial fight led to multiple injuries and two arrests. However, political players soon arrived at the scene, converting the local matter into a public caste issue. On Saturday, hundreds of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) supporters led by Arvind Rajbhar entered the village and allegedly made provocative remarks. They were met with angry reactions from Thakur organisations, including the Karni Sena and the Kshatriya Mahasabha, who demanded action and threatened protests.
The administration intervened, held a four hour meeting, and denied permission for any public gathering. Section 163 of the BNS has been imposed in the district, and an SIT has been formed to probe the incident. Officials have warned of legal consequences for inflammatory social media content or public demonstrations.
Meanwhile, villagers have had enough. They’ve put up banners across the village warning outsiders to stay away and refrain from politicising local matters. Residents insist they can resolve the conflict themselves and that political interference is only worsening the situation.
The situation escalated further when cabinet minister Anil Rajbhar visited only one party’s injured members in hospital, prompting Karni Sena to accuse him of bias. Under pressure, the police later filed an FIR from the other side. What was once a local land issue is now being seen through the lens of caste rivalry and political gain, further straining communal harmony in the region.
