The organized and open attacks on Dalits and women in Shiromani Tola of Parbatta block in Khagariya district in Bihar on 27 July 2015 have exposed the Nitish government’s hollow claims of bringing about a “Naya Bihar”. It has also exposed the true face of the power hungry BJP. On that day, an organized gang of about 250 people from the dominant Bhumihar community attacked the Dalit Tola openly, but the government, eager to appease the upper caste feudal forces, did not think it fit even to bring out a statement on this heinous attack.
Earlier, a bandh in Parbatta on 1 August and a dharna in Khagariya on 3 August were organized, in which state Party leaders. The police resorted to brutal lathi charge during the Parbatta bandh and arrested 4 Party leaders. A fact-finding team from the CPI (ML) visited Shiromani tola on the day of the bandh. The team included former MP from the Party Com. Rameshwar Prasad, AIPWA Gen Secrteray Com. Meena Tiwari, State committee members comrades Nawal, Rinku, AISA State President, Com. Rinki, AIPWA leader Com. Renu and Party district convenor Com. Arun Kumar Das.
The report prepared by the enquiry revealed that the background of the incident was the love which had sprung up between Prince Kumar Sharma, a boy from the tanti caste in Shiromani tola of Nayagaon and a girl from the Bhumihar caste in the same village. The couple had eloped in March but later returned under pressure. The girl’s family got her married in Beguserai after 2 or 3 months but the girl went away from her in-laws’ place. A case was registered in Beguserai thana against Prince and other boys of the tanti caste, and 2 were arrested. On 26 July the girl came to Beguserai thana in defence of the boys. The girl’s family got this news and the son of the village mukhiya and the sarpanch, along with some women of the tanti caste, came to Beguserai thana and tried to put pressure on the boy and girl, but the girl refused to return with them.
On 27 July the feudal forces called a meeting near the Durga sthan after which they, about 250 in number, launched an attack on Shiromani tola with cries of “Jai Maa Durga”. The attackers beat and threw children around. They crossed all limits with the women, particularly young women. They dragged, beat, and crushed them, and assaulted their private parts. A pregnant woman was so severely beaten that she started bleeding and is still in hospital. Despite all this, MLA RN Singh tells the victims to forget what has happened and return to the tola, as the fault was theirs. The BJP also holds the tanti caste guilty. Clearly, this attack was perpetrated to maintain social dominance and to tell the boys from the mahafalit caste that they should not dare to love or marry girls from upper castes.
After the incident, the police arrived at the village but a fresh attack was launched in the presence of the police. Even journalists were beaten up. Homes were looted and those who had escaped in the earlier attack were beaten up this time. Certificates were torn, jewellery looted, and mobiles snatched. A total of 3 attacks were made in all.
The victim families are currently taking shelter in a private school in neighbouring Goriyari village. The administration has sent nothing but some poor quality rice and wheat for their sustenance. 25 women and 15 men have been seriously injured in the attacks. The role of the local JD (U) leaders, the mukhiya’s son, and the sarpanch and the BJP leaders has exposed the continuing power of feudal forces in Bihar and the anti-Dalit face of the Nitish government.
Protest marches were taken out on 4 August in different districts of the State. The effigy of CM Nitish Kumar was burnt at several places.
A “Nyay March” was also taken out in Patna on 4 August. The march started from Station Golamber and reached Kargil Chowk where it culminated in a public meeting. Addressing the meeting, the speakers said that in spite of the tall claims of the Nitish government touting justice with development, empowerment of mahadalits, and encouragement for inter-caste marriages, there is absolutely no safety or security for couples who marry out of their caste as well as for the mahadalits. The speakers put forward the following demands: government jobs and social security for the affected boy and girl, evaluation of the loot during the incident and 5 lakhs compensation and rehabilitation of each victim, and immediate arrest, speedy trial and punishment for the guilty. They also demanded the release of the Party leaders arrested during the Parbatta bandh.
