Dalit couple, girl killed in Bihar

Patna: A Dalit couple was bludgeoned to death and a Dalit girl was murdered in separate incidents in Bihar, triggering angry protests, police said on Saturday.

Ramchander Paswan and his wife were bludgeoned to death with bricks by unidentified criminals in Dharampur village in Begusarai district early on Saturday.

"This double murder took place when the couple was sleeping," a district police official said, adding that police have begun an investigation into the case.

Angry over the killings, villagers blocked roads and burnt tyres.

In another incident, a young Dalit girl was stabbed to death in Chachapoli village in Siwan district by her jilted lover, a Dalit boy, on Saturday.

"After the girl refused to accept his proposal, Lakhan Ram stabbed her to death," a local police official said, adding that the accused is still absconding.

The spurt in crimes across Bihar in the last one and a half month forced Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to review the law and order situation in the state two days ago. He directed police officials to monitor policing at the ground level.