BIHAR

Ranvir Sena ‘Commander’ Met His Doom

BIJENDRS SINGH alias Langar Singh, the so-called “area commander” of Ranvir Sena, synonymous to ‘terror’ among the people, accused in as many as 40 murder cases and massacres, ultimately fell into rural people’s hands in his own native village, Kab, in Rania Talab PS of Patna district on 11 November, 2001. In a drunken state he went to dalit tola and brandished a pistol there bragging that he will perpetrate a carnage then and there. He was overpowered by the people, who first shot him with his own pistol, and then thrashed him to death with lathi-blows. This man was the main accused person in Haibuspur massacre, in which ten Mushahars were killed in cold blood on the Holi day in 1997, and named in several other massacres in Patna, Jahanabad and Bhojpur districts. Though he had a prize of Rs. 50,000 over his head, he roamed around freely because the police never tried to nab him. In this situation, only people could mete out justice to him and they eventually did that. With the elimination of this notorious criminal, Ranvir Sena has suffered a setback. People are jubilant but also apprehending retaliation by this bloodthirsty gang and have therefore to be on guard against such attacks.

Dharna by Panchayat Representatives Against Police Atrocities

PANCHAYAT REPRESENTATIVES of Patna district staged one-day dharna at Income Tax Square on 2 November to protest arrest of block pramukh Rajeshwar Mochi and mukhiyas Jaynandan Varma, Shivraj Singh Varma, Mumtaz Ansari and Mahendra Yadav in Dulhin Bazar block in Patna district and the inhuman beating and torture meted out to them in Danapur police station. Not only that, in a display of their cruelty the policemen plucked the mustache of mukhiya Mahendra Yadav. Addressing the dharna Bihar State Party Secretary Comrade Ramjatan Sharma said that the incident has exposed the contempt Rabri Govt. fosters towards the elected grassroots representatives and also revealed the conspiracy behind convening grand congregation of panchayat representatives on 2 October this year. Panchayat representatives assembled at the dharna submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister demanding dismissal and arrest of OC of Dulhin Bazar Police Station Rashid Parvez, DSP of Paliganj Md. Hasnain and other culprit police officials and unconditional release of all arrested people’s representatives.

Children Oppose Police-Criminal Nexus in Bihar

IN CONTINUATION of the CPI(ML)-led mass resistance campaign launched in the wake of killing of an abducted child ‘Golu’ in Muzaffarpur, children participated in ‘save the children’ campaign launched on 14 November, the official Children’s Day, against abduction, killing and the nexus of police and criminals, under which programmes were taken in various districts of Bihar.

In Arrah, AISA district unit organised a “save the children” convention at Jain School. Inaugurating the conference principal of Primary School Smt. Pushpa Mathur said that children’s life is completely insecure these days, any child can be abducted any day and demand of ransom would be made to the family, and in case it is not paid they will discover the dead body of their child lying somewhere. All this is because police has entered into nexus with criminals. Muzaffarpur incident is a proof of this phenomenon. Addressing the convention as guest, poet Nilay Upadhyay said that be it Afghanistan or massacres and abductions in Bihar, everywhere children are the victims. Poet Jitendra Kumar also addressed the convention.

Observing the programme in Muzaffarpur, 200 children brought out a procession from Malighat to Kalyani Chowk where it turned into a dharna. Placards in their hands demanded “Punish the murderers of Golu”.

In Begusarai, AISA brought out a procession of 50 children. In Samastipur, 60-70 children passed through the whole of the city and raised slogans against abduction, murder and nexus of criminals and police. AISA and Party leaders addressed the gathering.

In the meantime, several incidents of abduction of children have been reported. Seven-year old Chotu was abducted at Barari (Katihar) on 1 Nov. 11-year student Gaurav was abducted at Triveniganj (Supaul) and agitation against it is going on since 5 November. Then Mantu, 11-year old son of railworker Mahesh Kumar Sinha of Samastipur was found dead near the railway line after a week of abduction. CPI(ML) and AISA have staged a militant demonstration against this act.

WEST BENGAL

Sixth West Bengal State Party Conference

THE SIXTH conference of West Bengal Party unit was held on 8-11 November in Krishnanagar, Nadia. An impressive and well-decorated rally with a huge effigy of Bush, held at Krishnanagar Govt. College Maidan on 8 Nov., marked the beginning of the Conference. Party General Secretary Com. Dipankar Bhattacharya was the main speaker. While thoroughly exposing the evil designs of US behind the Afghanisthan war, Com. Dipankar sternly criticised the role of Vajpayee Govt. in tagging the country to the imperialist war and the motives hidden behind the imposition of POTO. He also exposed the LF Govt’s double standards in planning to bring a similar act in the forthcoming Assembly session. An effigy of George Bush was burnt amid sky-renting slogans against US imperialism. Com. Kartick Pal, State Secy. and other leaders also addressed the mass gathering. The propaganda campaign in this region that preceded the conference which focused on the US was in Afghanistan and Vajpayee’s saffron designs against minorities attracted local left ranks and minorities. The LF Government’s raids on SIMI offices were also protested as part of this campaign.

In all 258 delegates and 23 observers attended the conference. The agrarian situation and agrarian reforms pursued by the LF Govt., newly emerging class contradictions and the importance of organising agrarian labourers, building mass resistance against CPI(M)’s terror, particularly in the rural areas, were some of the main points of discussion. After Com. Kartick Pal’s explanatory deliberation on these points, the draft, with some amendments, was adopted unanimously. The conference elected a 29-member State Committee which re-elected Com. Kartick Pal as its secretary.

In his concluding speech, Com. Dipankar explained the emergence of social-democratic rule in the state, the underlying socio-economic factors of the LF Govt., and fervently appealed the delegates to redouble their vigour and initiative for building a revolutionary left alternative that the state is craving for. PB members Comrades DP Buxi and Nandkishore Prasad and the Central Observer Com. Malleswar Rao also addressed the delegates.

The newly elected state committee decided to launch a week-long campaign against POTO and POCO starting from 17 Nov. which will culminate on 26 Nov. through a day-long Dharna at Kolkata and in the district headquarters of the State.

ASSAM

Convention against Globalisation in Assam

A convention against globalisation and its impact in backward regions, particularly in the North East India, was held at Cotton College, Guwahati on 7 Oct., 2001 where S. P. Shukla, Convenor, People’s Campaign against Globalisation was the Chief Guest. It was inaugurated by Dr. Hiren Gohain, editor of the North-East Times and conducted by veteran intellectual Dr. Amalendu Guha and Anil Rai Choudhury. Prof. Devaprashad Baruah, Ex-VC of Guwahati University and Prof. Tarak Goswami spoke also addressed the convention attended by more than 170 persons including writers, artists, filmmakers, poets, journalists, political activists and trade unionists. the Convention adopted proposals opposing the policy of globalisation and condemned the total surrender by the Vajpayee led NDA Govt. It decided to carry forward the campaign in different places of the state. While condemning terrorist attack in America the Convention condemned the war threats by the Bush Administration as well as Vajpayee’s surrender. A convening committee was formed to carry forward the anti-globalisation campaign. Earlier, on behalf of the preparatory committee, speakers were felicitated by Loknath Goswami and welcome address was delivered by Naren Borah.