Two persons from the Ravidas caste were recently murdered by feudal criminals belonging to the Rajput caste in Purikh, Saharsa district with the intent of grabbing their land in Chamarkhala. A Resolve for Unity meeting (Sankalp Sabha) was organized against this on 22 January 2017 in Purikh. The meeting, attended by about 2000 people, was addressed by Com Dhirendra Jha and other leaders from the CPI(ML), AIARLA, and AISA. The demand was put out through the meeting that the Bihra thana in-charge, whose activities strengthened the morale of the criminals, should be removed.
Feudal forces had made the first attack on 14 September 2016 in which Umesh Ram was seriously injured. The feudal criminals had their eye on this land for a long time. When the Chief Minister reached Saharsa during his Nischay Yatra he took refreshment with their chief Mukhiya Brahmdev Singh. Brahmdev and his gang are supporters of the BJP but they also enjoy the protection of Nitish Kumar. Emboldened after the CM’s Yatra, they attacked the mahadalits once again on 25 December and killed Chano Ram. The attack was carried out without fear and under the protection of the local RJD MLA, the Bihra thana in-charge, and even the SC/ST thana. When the mahadalits went to Bihra and SC/ST thanas to register a case, their case was not registered. On the contrary, Sanjiv Singh and Rajiv Singh registered a case of extortion and loot against Chano Ram (killed in the attack), Vakil Ram (who died later) and others.
Mukhiya Brahmdev and his son are currently roaming free. The main accused have not yet been arrested. The Sankalp Sabha for unity of the poor demanded the removal of the Bihra thana in-charge, arrest of Brahmdev, and a fast track court to take action in the matter without delay.
