In a fresh episode of caste violence, four youths were murdered in Arari village in Shiekhpura district on early Friday. It has created tension and fear of revenge in the areas.

All the slain youths were identified as supporters of notorious gangster Ashok Mahto, who belongs to the powerful backward caste of Kurmi. 

Police officials suspect the hand of  gangster Akhilesh Singh, an upper caste Bhumihar, behind the killing of the four youths.

According to police sources, all the four youths were killed when they were sleeping on the roof of a community hall in the village.

In last few years, dozens of people were killed in Sheikhpura, Nalanda and Nawada district in a war of supremacy between two gangsters of different castes.

"Most of those killed either belong to the Kurmi or Bhumihar caste," a police official said.

Singh, who is absconding after fleeing from jail in 2005, is the husband of former legislator Aruna Singh.