Chief minister Nitish Kumar meets the applicants at the janata darbar at his official residence in Patna on Monday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, Feb. 7: Chief minister Nitish Kumar’s janata darbar, it seems, has rekindled hopes of justice among residents victimised by “influential” house grabbers.

Dehri resident Ranjita Kumari broke down as she complained to Nitish about Tarari MLA Sunil Padey, who, she claimed had usurped her house.

“My husband Dharmendra was murdered in 2004. It is more than a year now that Pandey’s men have captured my house. I am homeless and live with my sister-in-law. Please help me get my house back,” said Ranjita.

On February 1, relatives of Hindi poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar had complained against deputy-chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi’s nephew Mahesh Modi at Nitish’s janata darbar.

Dinkar’s relatives had alleged that Mahesh was trying to take possession of the late poet’s house, Dinkar Bhavan on Arya Kumar Road in Patna.

Samastipur resident Ruman Kumari also complained about her property being usurped by “powerful people”.

“Pankaj Thakur and Manoj Thakur have usurped my land. When we resisted them, they burnt alive my 12-year-old sister Sapna, four months ago. Neither of them has been arrested. We have been to the police station a number of times but in vain,” said Ruman.

Not just districts but also residents from capital lodged similar complaints at the darbar.

Amita Narayan, a Patna-based gynaecologist, complained that a local contractor had usurped her nursing home.

“My house-cum-nursing home on RK Avenue road was usurped four months ago by one Guddu Singh, a relative of the owners of Nutan Constructions. He has opened a girls’ hostel in the building. I have been running from pillar to post for three months and have now come here to seek justice. I am sure Nitishji can help me,” said Narayan.

A large number of applicants today broke down while trying to explain their problems to the chief minister and senior police officers.

Chanavati (30) sobbed as she narrated the horrifying tale of an attempted rape and torture.

“In October last year, two persons, Sanjeev Singh and Dinesh Rai, had tried to rape me. When I resisted they poured acid on my face. The police did not do anything to help me. I had to come here, 200km from my house, to seek justice,” she said. Her disfigured face narrated a tale of torture and agony.

Chanavati, a resident of Jainagar in Madhubani, was taken to Patna Medical College and Hospital immediately.

Director-general of police Neel Mani said all the cases would be investigated before any action is taken.