World · India Bureau
Girl's viral video claims police torched home in land dispute
A video showing a girl weeping outside a burning shanty in Uttar Pradesh has sparked controversy over a disputed land case in Badaun district. The girl alleged that police and revenue officials deliberately set fire to her home, claims denied by authorities.
LSN India ·

A dispute over land ownership in Badaun district has escalated after a video circulated online showing a girl in tears outside her burning home. In the footage, the girl invoked the name of Phoolan Devi, the notorious bandit-turned-politician, vowing to seek revenge for what she described as an injustice.
The girl alleged that police personnel and a revenue official entered her residence and deliberately set fire to the structure. She claimed the incident was connected to an ongoing land dispute affecting her family. The video's rapid spread on social media has drawn public attention to the case and raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the fire.
Local police have contested the allegations, stating that the fire was set deliberately by the residents themselves. Officials have not provided further details about their investigation into the incident or the underlying land claim.
The case highlights ongoing tensions over property disputes in rural Uttar Pradesh, where conflicts between residents and government authorities over land ownership and documentation remain a persistent issue. Authorities have not announced any formal action against those involved in either the alleged arson or the property dispute.