Sivan Acid Attack: When Crime and Politics Mixed in Bihar’s Darkest Hour
Let me tell you about something that still sends chills down my spine. Back in 2004, Bihar’s Sivan district saw one of those crimes that make you question everything—how politics, power and plain cruelty can come together in the worst possible way. The acid attack on Chandeshwar Prasad’s family wasn’t just brutal, it was personal. And the alleged mastermind? RJD heavyweight Mohammad Shahabuddin. Now, with Bihar’s 2025 elections around the corner, people are asking: Has anything really changed?
1. That Night in Sivan: A Story You Can’t Unhear
1.1 The Family That Stood Up
Chandeshwar Prasad—everyone called him Chanda Babu—was your typical small-town businessman. Three sons, a decent life. Until a land dispute with Shahabuddin turned ugly. What happened next? Well, that’s where things get dark. His family became the face of what happens when you cross the wrong people in Bihar.
1.2 August 16, 2004: The Night That Changed Everything
Acid. Can you imagine? They threw acid on his sons—burned them alive in their own home. Villagers talked about screams that didn’t stop for hours. But here’s the kicker: cops took their sweet time showing up. And when they did? Let’s just say the “investigation” was a joke. Evidence went missing. Classic Bihar back then.
1.3 After the Storm: Silence Speaks Volumes
Media went nuts—”Sivan Acid Horror” made headlines for weeks. But politicians? Crickets. Shahabuddin, sitting pretty as an MP, called it a “small local issue.” The message was clear: some people are untouchable.
2. Shahabuddin: The Man Who Thought He Was God
2.1 Meet the Don of Sivan
Four-time MP. Over 50 criminal cases—murder, kidnapping, you name it. But here’s the thing: the more cases he had, the more powerful he became. That’s Bihar politics for you in the 2000s.
2.2 How Criminals Became Kingmakers
It wasn’t just him. Bihar had dozens of these so-called “bahubalis”—gangsters who realized politics was the perfect cover. Parties loved them because they delivered votes. How? Let’s just say it wasn’t through polite campaigning.
2.3 The System That Looked the Other Way
Remember when Shahabuddin openly threatened a judge? That moment told you everything. A retired cop later admitted, “We weren’t policing him—we were taking his orders.” Makes you wonder who was really running the show.
3. Justice? What Justice?
3.1 A Trial Full of Holes
Witnesses changed stories overnight. Case files disappeared. Lawyers called it the most botched investigation they’d ever seen—and that’s saying something in Bihar.
3.2 The Never-Ending Court Drama
Shahabuddin got convicted in 2007. Big deal—he was out on bail before the ink dried on the verdict. The case dragged on till he died in prison in 2021. Chanda Babu? He passed away waiting for a justice that never came.
3.3 Where Things Stand Now
The family’s still fighting for compensation. Not one politician has said sorry. And that case file? Probably covered in dust somewhere. Classic “out of sight, out of mind” situation.
4. 2025 Elections: Will Anyone Remember?
4.1 Does Sivan Still Matter to Voters?
Opposition parties sometimes bring it up to bash RJD. But with Shahabuddin gone and new scandals popping up every day, who’s got the attention span?
4.2 Same Game, New Players?
Sure, the violence isn’t as brazen now. But get this—in 2020, one in four Bihar MLAs had criminal cases. Some things never change, huh?
5. The Big Picture: What We Still Haven’t Learned
This case shows what happens when the system breaks down completely. We needed judicial reforms, witness protection—heck, basic human decency. As 2025 approaches, Bihar’s at a crossroads: repeat history or finally turn the page?
Final Thought
The Sivan attack wasn’t just about acid or one family’s tragedy. It was about how power corrupts absolutely. Now Bihar has to decide—will justice ever matter more than votes?
Source: News18 Hindi – Nation
