A buffalo has become the centre of an unusually complicated dispute in Bihar, where two men are claiming the same animal as their own.
What makes the case even more unusual is the solution being considered by the police: a DNA test.
The incident has taken place in Gaya district of Bihar, where officials are trying to determine which of the two claimants has a legitimate connection to the buffalo. The dispute has become unusual enough to reach senior police officials, with Magadh Range Inspector General Vikas Vaibhav directing authorities to investigate the matter and use scientific evidence if necessary.
But how did a dispute over one buffalo reach the stage of DNA testing?
One Buffalo, Two Claims
According to reports, the dispute involves Suraj Yadav and Prakash Manjhi.
Yadav claims that the buffalo belonged to him and had gone missing from his village, Seutar, in Gaya district. He later found an animal matching his description at a location in the area and brought it back.
However, the matter did not end there.
Prakash Manjhi also claimed ownership of the same buffalo.
According to reports, Manjhi said the buffalo was connected to him and that he had obtained it through a legal lease arrangement. This created a situation in which two people were presenting different explanations for how the same animal came into their possession.
With neither side willing to give up the claim, the matter eventually became a police case.
Police Tried a Simple Solution First
Before turning to scientific testing, police reportedly attempted a much simpler way of identifying where the buffalo belonged.
The animal was allowed to move freely to see which location it would recognize as home.
According to reports, the buffalo went toward Suraj Yadav’s house.
For Yadav, this appeared to support his claim.
But for Manjhi, the matter was far from settled.
He challenged the claim and approached the police, saying that the buffalo belonged to him.
The animal was subsequently taken into police custody while officials examined the competing claims.
The unusual situation eventually attracted the attention of senior police authorities.
Why Did Police Consider a DNA Test?
When traditional evidence cannot conclusively settle an animal ownership dispute, biological evidence can sometimes help establish relationships between animals.
In this case, authorities are considering DNA testing as part of the investigation.
Reports indicate that the buffalo’s DNA may be compared with DNA from a related animal, such as its mother or offspring, depending on what biological samples are available.
This distinction is important.
A DNA test does not automatically prove legal ownership of an animal.
Instead, DNA can help establish biological relationships. If investigators can demonstrate that the disputed buffalo is biologically related to an animal that is already documented or reliably identified as belonging to one claimant, that evidence could potentially support that person’s version of events.
The final determination of ownership would still depend on the complete evidence and legal investigation.
A Buffalo Cannot Explain Where It Came From
The unusual nature of this case comes from one basic problem: the animal cannot tell investigators its history.
A human involved in an ownership dispute can provide documents, receipts, witnesses or other records.
An animal cannot explain:
- Where it was born
- Who raised it
- When it changed hands
- Whether it was sold
- Whether it was leased
- Whether it was stolen
- Or where it lived before being found
That leaves investigators dependent on physical identification, witnesses, records and, potentially, scientific evidence.
The Dispute Also Became a Legal Matter
The case did not remain limited to a disagreement over an animal.
According to reports, Prakash Manjhi filed an FIR against Suraj Yadav under provisions of India’s Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
This added a separate legal dimension to the dispute and increased the importance of a proper investigation.
Because different allegations and claims are involved, it is important not to treat either party’s version as an established fact until the investigation and legal process determine what actually happened.
Why Scientific Evidence Matters
The case highlights an interesting aspect of modern policing.
DNA technology is usually associated with criminal investigations, identifying unknown bodies or establishing biological relationships.
But DNA can also be useful in disputes involving animals when biological relationships are relevant.
Similar animal-related DNA disputes have appeared in India before. In 2015, police in Uttar Pradesh considered DNA sampling in a buffalo ownership dispute involving two calves.
The Bihar case therefore shows how forensic and veterinary science can sometimes enter situations that would traditionally have been resolved through witnesses, identification marks, purchase records or local knowledge.
Can DNA Really Identify the “Owner” of a Buffalo?
This is perhaps the most interesting question in the entire case.
Strictly speaking, DNA identifies biological relationships, not ownership documents.
For example, if a buffalo is proven through DNA to be the biological offspring of a particular animal, that may help establish its history.
But an animal can also be sold, leased, transferred or inherited.
Therefore, proving biological lineage is not necessarily the same thing as proving who legally owns the animal today.
That means investigators may still need other evidence, such as:
Purchase records, veterinary records, identification tags, witnesses, photographs, previous complaints, ownership documents and statements from the parties involved.
DNA could become one important piece of evidence rather than the entire answer.
What Happens Next?
Senior police officials have directed the local authorities to investigate the dispute and establish the facts.
Reports say the buffalo is currently connected to the dispute while officials work to determine the legitimate claimant. The proposed scientific examination is intended to provide additional evidence before the animal is finally handed over.
The outcome of the DNA examination, if conducted, could make this already unusual case even more interesting.
If the biological evidence strongly supports one side’s version, it could help investigators resolve an argument that traditional methods have failed to settle.
But if the DNA result does not establish ownership on its own, officials may still have to examine the remaining evidence.
A Strange Case With a Serious Lesson
At first glance, the story may sound almost humorous:
Two men. One buffalo. And a DNA test.
But behind the unusual headline is a genuine question about how authorities establish facts when two people present conflicting claims.
The case also demonstrates why scientific evidence must be used carefully.
Technology can provide valuable information, but the interpretation of that information still matters.
A DNA match can answer a biological question.
A police investigation can examine the circumstances.
And a legal process can ultimately determine rights and responsibility.
That is why the Bihar buffalo dispute is more than just an unusual news story.
It is an example of how modern science, traditional evidence and the legal system can intersect in unexpected situations.
For now, one question remains at the centre of the case:
Who does the buffalo really belong to?
The answer may eventually come not from the animal finding its way home, but from a laboratory.
Watch the Full Documentary
We have also covered this unusual Bihar case in documentary format, explaining how the buffalo ownership dispute began, why two men are claiming the same animal and why police are considering DNA testing.
Watch the full video above and share your opinion.
Do you think DNA testing is a reasonable way to help resolve an animal ownership dispute?
Documentary by Shahzad Lashari
Online Sindh
Frequently Asked Questions
Police in Gaya are considering DNA testing as part of an investigation into a dispute between two men who both claim the same buffalo.
Where did the buffalo dispute happen?
The case is from Gaya district in Bihar, India, and has involved authorities in the Magadh Range.
Who are the two men claiming the buffalo?
Reports identify the two claimants as Suraj Yadav and Prakash Manjhi.
Can DNA prove who legally owns a buffalo?
Not by itself. DNA can establish biological relationships, but legal ownership may also require documents, witnesses, identification records and other evidence.
Why did police become involved?
The two competing claims could not be resolved between the parties, leading to a police investigation and eventually intervention by senior officials.
