CPI-ML for arrest of Bihar politicos guilty of Dalit killings

CPI-ML (Liberation) today staged a protest here to demand the arrest of politicians from BJP and other parties in Bihar whose names purportedly figured in a sting operation conducted by Cobrapost for allegedly inciting Dalit massacres by the banned Ranveer Sena two decades ago.
During the protest at Jantar Mantar, the Left party also sought action against six self-styled Sena commanders who reportedly admitted on camera to have carried out the killings.
CPI-ML leaders also wanted to know from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar why his government had disbanded Justice (retired) Amir Das Commission, which investigated alleged nexus between politicians, criminals and Ranveer Sena, a private militia of upper caste land owners, which allegedly mowed down 58 Dalits at Laxmanpur Bathe in Jehanabad district in 1997.

The party said it will raise the issue during the upcoming state assembly polls "in the light of fresh confirmation" of its long-standing claim of involvement of politicians in the massacre.
"This Cobrapost sting has confirmed what was an open secret in Bihar, that is, the Ranveer Sena committed these massacres in cold blood. They had political backing of extremely powerful politicians of the state including those from BJP as well as other parties.
"All the politicians involved and six Sena men admitting to have carried out the killings should be arrested," CPI-ML (Liberation) politburo member Kavita Krishnan told PTI.

She accused Kumar of disbanding the Commission to avoid a volley of "embarrassing" questions over "why he joined hands with killers of Bihar's labouring poor".

Krishnan said several accused in cases of killings of Dalits by the Ranveer Sena were acquitted by the high court on "flimsy" grounds and her party has appealed against it in the Supreme Court in Laxmanpur Bathe and Bathani Tola massacre cases.
"We are seeking SC to take cognizance of the fresh evidence," she said.
Besides Krishnan, another politburo member Swapan Mukherjee, the party's state unit members, professors and intellectuals took part in the demonstration.