The district of Darbhanga remains on a knife-edge following the brutal rape and murder of a six-year-old girl, an incident that has spiraled into a violent standoff between citizens and law enforcement. While the victim’s blood-soaked body was recovered near a railway station and moved to DMCH for a post-mortem, the public’s grief turned into rage over perceived administrative apathy. Protesters took to the streets, engaging in arson and stone-pelting, which was met with a heavy-handed police lathi-charge. The tragedy has taken a political turn as critics question the “USP” of the Nitish Kumar government regarding women’s safety. Comparisons are being drawn to the recent Patna NEET student case, where police were similarly accused of delayed action and suppressing facts. Despite FSL and DIU teams being deployed, the victim’s family and local residents are demanding immediate accountability, questioning why the police are “using sticks” against those seeking justice instead of providing swift results. With no official statement yet from the Chief Minister’s office, the situation highlights a growing trust deficit in the state’s investigative machinery.

