Dumka, Nov. 16: Fear has gripped family members of Rajesh Mishra, who runs a small shop on the outskirts of Jamtara on the Jamtara-Dumka main road, as he was beaten allegedly by some Jharkhand Disom Party (JDP) activists last evening when the state was celebrating its third foundation day.

Mishra was beaten up because his family had migrated from Motihari in Bihar. The family has now been asked to quit Jharkhand. Mishra’s father, a fourth grade government employee, settled at Jamtara years ago.

“Amra Bihari kintu onek din theka ethane achhi, chelera kono bhabe sanshar challache (We are living her since long and my sons somehow run the family),” said Mishra’s mother, fear writ large on her face. She speaks fluent Bengali, the “link language” of the Santhal Parganas.

The incident is being seen as a result of the “provocative speech” made by rebel BJP MP and Jharkhand Disom Party leader Salkhan Murmu, who addressed a gathering near Jamtara court yesterday.

“Bihari aur Bihar ki mansikta wale logo ko Jharkhand se jab tak khoj-khoj kar aur mar kar nahi bhagaya gaya, Jharkhand ka sapna sakar nahi hoga (It is not possible to fulfil the dream of Jharkhand unless people from Bihari are identified and beaten up so that they leave the state),” Salkhan told the gathering.

The incident took place within half-an-hour after Salkhan left Jamtara for Dumka to attend a protest rally organised by the Jharkhand Vikas Dal. Mishra’s family members are avoiding the police, fearing more trouble.

The attack comes when the United Liberation Front of Asom has given a call to drive out Biharis from Assam, because people in Bihar have targeted train passengers from their state. The controversy erupted after candidates from Bihar were allegedly not allowed to appear in a railway competitive examination in Assam.

Murmu urged the “moolvasis-adivasis” to identify the Biharis and “drive them” out forcefully. “Unless 90 per cent of the adivasis and moolvasis become conscious about their rights, the 10 per cent Biharis will enjoy their monopoly over them” he told the audience.

Murmu’s speech evoked sharp reaction from other political parties. JMM president Sibu Soren said no one would be allowed to breach the peace of the Jharkhandi society, particularly in the Santhal Parganas where people live in harmony. “Salkhan is an agent of the BJP. He has been asked to create confusion among tribals. The JMM activists will drive him back with bows and arrows.”