Samastipur: Manisha, a BPSC teacher, was shot dead at her home in Khokshaha village under the Dalsinghsarai police station area on Monday morning. The murder is linked to a 29-year-old land dispute involving her husband’s family. The police have launched an investigation, and forensic experts have collected evidence from the scene.
Manisha had married four years ago and became a government teacher 1.5 years back. According to her brother, she had been living in a rented house near her school but had moved back to her in-laws’ house six months ago. Manisha was known for her dedication to education and ran a YouTube channel named “Manisha Sah,” where she shared information on job preparation, competitive exams, and work-from-home opportunities.
The 29-year-old dispute centers around 10 katta of land originally owned by Manisha’s husband’s grandmother. The conflict began in 1995 when her father-in-law Naresh Shah’s brother Yogendra Shah was murdered. The primary accused, Nago Mahato, had a criminal history and targeted the family after facing opposition from Yogendra Shah. In 1996, Naresh Shah’s father, Bhuttu Shah, was also killed when Mahato mistook him for Naresh.
A social compromise was reached after the murders, with Nago Mahato registering the disputed land in Naresh Shah’s mother’s name. However, in 2004, Mahato’s son Arvind Mahato sold parts of the land, reigniting the feud between the families. Despite multiple attempts at resolution, the Shah family remained unable to reclaim their land due to fear and escalating tensions.
On December 20, Naresh Shah filed a police application expressing concern for his family’s safety. Just four days later, his daughter-in-law Manisha was killed. According to Naresh, the family of the original accused targeted her as part of the ongoing land dispute.
Police have registered a named FIR against 6-7 individuals, including the main accused, Arvind Mahato, son of Nago Mahato. SP Ashok Mishra inspected the scene and stated that land conflict is the apparent motive, though all angles are being examined.
The murder has once again highlighted the violence surrounding long-standing property disputes in rural Bihar. With forensic evidence being analyzed and an investigation underway, authorities aim to bring the perpetrators to justice. Meanwhile, the tragic death of Manisha has left her family and community in mourning.
