Sugiya, a resident of Bahilwara in Muzaffarpur's Saraiya block, got married last week but missed out on a specific ritual - wearing traditional bangles offered to every bride by people from neighbouring Ajitpur village.

Clashes had erupted at Ajitpur on January 18 after the recovery of a youth's body. Four persons were killed in the bloodshed and nine others injured. Since then the villagers have stopped venturing out to the neighbouring villages, including Bahilwara, Rupnath, Belbar and Jatkauli.

Still, Sugiya, the 24-year-old bride was surprised when 50-something Rajia (name changed) did not visit Bahilwara on January 29 to offer the girl her bridal bangles.

The Bahilwara residents said 15 and odd families from Ajitpur used to earn their living by selling bridal bangles to the neighbouring villages during the wedding season. Sugiya has two siblings and her elder sister Savita had worn the bangles brought by Rajia.

'Not only the bride but the other women in the family also wear bangles bought from Rajia. It's considered auspicious,' said Sugiya's mother Rukmini. She added that Rajia has not visited the village since the clash. Her two teenaged sons have been missing after the January 18 clash, a villager said.

Rajia's house was one of those set on fire by a mob that ransacked Ajitpur on January 18. On Thursday, she was among the victims who narrated their suffering before two members of a government team investigating the incident and assessing the loss of property.

Principal secretary, home, Sudhir Kumar and additional director general (headquarters) Gupteshwar Pandey arrived at Ajitpur around 11.30am on Thursday. Inspector-general (Tirhut zone) Parasnath and deputy inspector-general (Tirhut) A.K. Mishra accompanied them.

The team members spoke to the residents and recorded statements of over 36 people at the newly opened temporary police outpost. They also visited the house of Kamal Sahni, whose son Bhartendu's murder had triggered the clash.

Although the team faced the fury of some women demanding immediate release of 18 people earlier arrested for instigating the mob and arson and killing, they said Ajitpur was slowly creeping back to normalcy. They left for Patna at 4.30pm.

Neither the team nor the residents offered details on the visit but Kamal Sahni said: 'The principal secretary visited my house and enquired about my son who had gone missing. His body was found a week after the matter was reported to the police.'

One of the team members said on condition of anonymity: 'A formal inquiry into the incident has started. The situation at the village is quite normal. People who had abandoned their houses have returned and are trying to settle down.'

The mukhiya (head) of Ajitpur panchayat, Malti Devi, told The Telegraph over the phone: 'The clash victims have been provided polythene, blankets, food material and other basic facilities by the district authorities. The affected families have also received compensation.'

Child development programme officer Rajni Kumari added that cooked meal was being served to the members of the affected families, while security forces, including Rapid Action Force personnel, are still maintaining close surveillance at the village.

Any normalcy in the area would rekindle the hope among Bahilwara residents that Rajia would again return to her traditional job.