Three people who were attacked said that they were targeted because of their Muslim identity. Locals said the attacks are connected to the polarised environment created by the Mahapanchayats.

The Patna high court, in its August 18 order had asked the government to raise awareness how to identify and report such migrants, especially in the border areas, with the help of digital and print media.

The court has pressed the construction of a detention centre in a series of orders and specifically talked about the influx of "illegal migrants" from Bangladesh.

With steamers going out of business, residents of the area must either cross the river in small, unsafe boats or walk along the tracks on the rail bridge to get to the other side.

The empty rhetoric of development does not seem to resonate with the voters anymore and a new generation of politicians are now taking the lead.