Koyli/Khutaha
(Bhagalpur): The twin villages' fight to get electricity had quickly
turned into a clash over who gets it first. After 15 years, all
that Koyli and Khutaha have to show for their efforts are 25 poles
without wires - and 20 murders.
The
first killing happened soon after the administration decided to
electrify the two Yadav-dominated villages, 7 km from Bhagalpur
railway station and 225 km from Patna.
The
first set of poles were put up at Koyli in 1991. But in the dead
of night, a group of youths from Khutaha crossed the nullah that
separates the villages, uprooted the poles and carried them to their
village.
Koyli's
2,500 people couldn't let the insult from 10,000-strong Khutaha
pass. Ranjit Yadav, 25, of Koyli was the first victim of the gunfights
that followed.
Koyli
got its revenge four years later: three from Khutaha were shot dead
in August 1995.
"Since
then, 16 more have been killed," said Khutaha headman Ravindra
Yadav.
As
the battles raged, the electricity department kept away. So did
the politicians.
"Although
a police superintendent would arrive after every murder, no district
magistrate or politician ever tried to bring peace. The Bhagalpur
MLA and excise and prohibition minister, Sudha Srivastava, would
not come even to ask for votes," said government engineer Subhash
Yadav, whose family is among at least 50 that have shifted from
the two villages to Bhagalpur to escape the violence.
His
17-year-old son Alok, who has secured 76 per cent in his Class X
exams, said: "I feel embarrassed when people talk about my
village with contempt.
"Manager
Yadav of Khutaha said it was strange that the villagers, 70 per
cent of whom are educated - and many are soldiers, policemen, doctors
or engineers - are considered "goondas and ruffians".
The
Khutaha headman, though, said an end to the wait for power was in
sight: electrical wires would be installed from next month.
Youths
from both villages had together requested the authorities to set
up the connections.
"The
peaceful panchayat elections (held three months ago) showed they
are trying to forget their bloody past," said Bhagalpur district
magistrate Vipin Kumar.
Yet
the truce forged for the sake of electricity barely hides the rancour.
Ramesh Yadav of Koyli said: "Hamare bich uthne baithne aur
khanpan ka koi sambandh nahi hai (the residents of the two villages
don't mix or dine with each other)."
He wasn't sure the fighting wouldn't resume once the power connections
were set up.
Koyli
has lost 13 people while Khutaha has lost just seven. All but one
of the 27 given life terms in 2001 for Ranjit's murder are out on
bail. There are still many scores to settle.
