Nearly 300 Mahadalits who had fled their Bihar village after being threatened by upper caste men returned home Sunday following assurances of security and protection.
"Mahadalits finally agreed to return to their homes following repeated attempts by district authorities after Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's instruction to ensure their return," police officer Pradip Kumar said.
He said the Mahadalits had fled Pura village of Gaya district, about 100 km from here, Thursday following last week's killing of Arjun Manjhi.
Arjun had filed nomination papers for the election to the post of president of the primary agriculture cooperative society and refused to withdraw despite pressure.
The Mahadalits fled following threats by upper caste residents for protesting Arjun's killing.
"After they protested, some powerful people threatened to eliminate them like Manjhi. Fearing attacks, they fled the village," said another police official.
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They had been camping in the block office in Tekari.
"It is a big relief for all of us as it was a big challenge to convince them after they refused to go back to their village," he said.
Terrified Mahadalits had Saturday refused to return home, fearing that powerful upper caste men would attack and harm them.
Kumar said efforts of District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Agrawal and Senior Superintendent of Police Nishant Kumar Tiwari bore fruit. Both were trying since Thursday to convince them.
The chief minister had instructed the police to file charge sheet in the case within seven days.
Five of six accused arrested in the case were Saturday produced in the Gaya district court which sent them to 14-day judicial custody.
Manjhi has also announced that Pura will be developed as a model village. A permanent police outpost has been set up in the village for providing security to the Mahadalits.