This is a mixed Hindu-Muslim village having nearly 50 houses of the Muslims. Earlier, the Hindus and the Muslims lived in peace and amity. But on October 27, 1989 when the rumours of the reported killing of the Hindus, later found to be false, reached Chanderi, the situation changed. First, the Hindus protested against the Imam coming from another village Rajpur to conduct Namaz. Then people of a few houses living in the village on the periphery of Chanderi were burnt and two persons killed.

At 4.30 pm the district magistrate came to Chanderi with the ASP, Sunil Kumar, and an Army contingent under Major General P.S. Virk. The Hindu mob of Farakka, Mokalkah and other surrounding villages trying to storm Chanderi disappeared at the sight of the Army. Thinking that the situation had normalised, the district magistrate left for Bhagalpur. However, the Army remained. When Major Virk came to the village he found nearly 70 Muslims huddled together in one house. After their houses were burnt they had taken shelter in the house of Minnat Mian. At 10.30 pm, the BDO and the officer-in- charge of Sabaur police station, Kailash Chaudhary, came to the village. Major Virk later told the special ADM that he had left the village after these officers assured him that food and protection will be provided to the Muslims. It appcars that the steps were taken to protcct these people.

The following day, around 8.30 am, they were brought out of the house on the assurance that they would be safely escorted to the Rajpur village where Muslims are in majority ...

While they were going alongside a pond in the middle of the village on way to Rajpur, they were attacked from two sides. Sixty of them were killed and their bodies thrown into the pond. Others barely managed to escape.

One of the persons who had a miraculous escape was Malika Begum who survived in the pond, even though one of her leg had been amputated with the sword. She remained here till she was recovered by Major Virk the same day around 12.30 pm. Malika has stated before the Hon'ble Patna High Court that the policemen were present when the killings took place.

However, an inquiry was made by Dwivedi (SP of Bhagalpur) and Arun Kumar Jha (DM). After accepting the entire occurrence as true, they have held the police and Army under Major Virk responsible for being grossly negligent in the performance of their duty.

We have no hesitation modifying our finding and say that the conduct of the police and paramilitary forces stationed amounted them to be abettor to the massacre and the conduct of Major Virk was absolutely irresponsible because after coming to know that the village was surrounded by massive mobs, he should have either hunted them down or rescued the Muslims collected in the house of Minnat Mian immediately and sent for further forces to effect rescue work. When he went the next morning it was too late ... (Source: The Pioneer, 20 July, 2000)