PURNIA, Aug. 14 -- Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will spend a night (of August 23) at a tribal village -- Khakhraili -- in Purnia district during his 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' in the Seemanchal region, party officials said. Khakhraili is merely 3-km away from Tetgama village where, on July 6 night, five of a tribal family were allegedly "torched to death" over suspicion of witchcraft. An overnight stay at a tribal village in a tight itinerary of Congress leaders suggests that the party is targeting tribals in its outreach march apart from mobilising other sections of the electorate ahead of upcoming elections. As per route chart shared by the local Congress leaders, the Yatra launched from Rohtas on August 17 will enter Seemanchal on August 23 through Katihar and on the same day, Rahul would take a night halt at Khakhraili village which, besides being in the vicinity of Tetgama, is also a stronghold of the tribal population. "Our leader will arrive at Khakhraili village late evening on August 23 and will take night rest there," senior Congress leader Neeraj Kumar Singh alias Chhotu Singh said. He, however, didn't say anything when asked about Rahul's visit to the tragedy-hit Tetgama. Purnia district party president Vijendra Yadav said, "Our leader has been fighting for the cause of the poor masses and anything is possible (hinting that Rahul might visit Tetgama too)." The 'Yatra', as per route chart, will traverse through eight assembly segments out of total 24 seats in Seemanchal -- three each in Katihar (Barari, Katihar and Kadwa) and Araria (Araria, Forbesganj and Narpatganj) and two in Purnia (Purnia and Kasba). Out of these eight assembly segments, Congress has three MLAs (Kadwa, Araria and Kasba). Curiously, the Yatra will miss Kishanganj district that has 70% Muslim population and also has a Congress MP. Local observers of politics say that Congress considers Muslims its traditional vote-bank and now the party seeks to take its outreach to tribals. A tribal leader of Purnia, Tallu Murmu, said that the Congress would not limit its outreach to Rahul's rally and that the party would continue to woo the crucial section of voters. In Bihar, other parties like ruling Janata Dal (Unted) have also been reaching out to the tribals. In October last year senior JD(U) leader and state minister Lesi Singh had taken out Gram Gaurav Yatra visiting tribal villages in Purnia and addressed their grievances. Professor Naresh Kumar Srivasatava of Purnea University (PU), who has done research on Tribal culture in Purnea in the 90s, said, "The British brought tribals from the Chhotanagpur plateau and Santhal Pargana to clear forests in Purnia, where they later settled and claimed land, sparking disputes. The first major flashpoint came in 1971, when 14 Santhal sharecroppers at Rupaspur-Chandwa were allegedly killed by a landlord's hired gunmen. The massacre propelled tribal leaders to prominence."...