CPI-ML HELD A PROTEST MARCH AGAINST FEUDAL ATROCITIES

CPI-ML HELD A PROTEST MARCH AGAINST FEUDAL ATROCITIES

13-SEP-ENG 28

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA------------------------The CPI-ML held a protest march in Arrah against the attack on the Dalit settlement by feudal criminals in Bariswan village (Shahpur), Bhojpur, and the murder of Meena Devi, the 62-year-old wife of former soldier Ramji Ram.

This protest march started from the CPI-ML district office in Sritola, Arrah, traveled through various routes in the city, and culminated in a meeting at the Arrah railway station. During this period, CPI-ML leaders stated that the resistance:

Bariswan, a village in the Bariswan Panchayat of Shahpur Block, has long been a village dominated by feudal lords. On the afternoon of September 28th, Kanhaiya Tiwari insulted Anish Kumar Kashyap, a Dalit youth, sitting under a tree on the platform of the village's temple, by saying, "How dare you, being a Chamar, sit in the temple?" A scuffle ensued when he protested. Anish's father separated the two, but within a short time, a large number of criminals attacked the house. The parents and other members of the Dalit community who came to intervene were chased and beaten. Anish's mother, Sili Devi, was knocked unconscious by the beating, and others suffered serious injuries. The next day, on October 29th, an even larger number of attackers returned, armed with sticks, rods, bats, and axes, demanding the withdrawal of the written complaint filed at the police station that evening. Many people were chased and beaten again. 62-year-old Meena Devi, who had gone to inquire about the condition of Sili Devi who was injured the previous day, was also attacked. She was hit on the head with a stick and kicked in the stomach. Badly injured, Meena ji was admitted to Shahpur Referral Hospital, a private hospital in Ara and finally to PMCH in Patna where she died on the evening of 1 October. Ramji Ram, who retired from the Indian Army in 2004, returned to the village with his wife's body without conducting a post-mortem to show his mother's face to his four young sons. The post-mortem was later conducted in Ara. Despite a written complaint about the incident, the police did not arrive on the first day. Upon the arrival of the body, the police, under pressure, convinced the family to cremate the body, promising to arrest the criminals within seven days. The criminals and their families have absconded, locking their homes. Villagers reported that not a single Dalit family in Bariswan, a community of approximately 550 households, owns land. They earn their livelihood by working on the attackers' farms. Elderly women farm laborers are often abused and slapped. Vikas Ram, the husband of the injured Sili Devi, wept, saying that he has to endure abuse and humiliation daily. He can no longer live in this village. Villagers also reported that in the past, Jairam Tatvan, a vegetable vendor from the Tatvan caste, was also subjected to feudal oppression for asking for a loan and was thrown to death on a pole. This is just the latest example of the free rein and protection given to feudal criminals under the 20-year Modi-Nitish double-engine government, which ran on the slogan of development with justice and good governance. The wife of a soldier who served the country all his life was murdered because she is a Dalit. This should be strongly opposed and a call should be made to overthrow this government to create a new Bihar.

The protest march was attended by CPI-ML Central Committee member Abhiyudaya, State Committee member Vijay Ojha, State Committee member Qayamuddin Ansari, City Secretary Sudhir Kumar Singh, AISA State Secretary Shabbir Kumar, West Bengal State Committee member Nilasish Bose, Balmukund Chaudhary, Harinath Ram, Vikas Kumar, Sudhar Yadav, Rajendra Yadav, Roshan Kushwaha, Randhir Kumar Rana, Satyadev Kumar, Ward Councilor Mu. Rajan, Santvilas Ram, Lallu Kumar, Raju Prasad, Raju Khan, and many others. The program was coordinated by CPI-ML District Office Secretary Dilraj Pritam.