Naxalite Violence - Articles

The security concerns of Bihar differ from other states in India. On the one hand, it does not have border-related security issues while, on the other, there is no separatist movement for creating a new state - Jharkhand has already separated from Bihar. Communities in Bihar are divided on the basis of caste identities unlike most other states of India. This division of its society on the basis of castes and sub-castes is so strong that political parties contesting elections in the state try to address only those sections that are their committed voters. Any attempt at harmonising the castes can lead to an erosion of their vote bank.

The Naxalite movements are rampant in Bihar in protest against the state, but for facing these Left extremists, private armies of landowners have been created. The Naxalites are engaged in providing justice by holding arbitrary trials and punishing the alleged perpetrators of crime by an eye-for-an-eye, and tooth-for-a-tooth judicial process.

Private armies like the Kuer Sena, Kishan Surakhsa Samity, Bhumi Sena, Kisan Sangh, Lorik Sena, Kisan Morcha, Ganga Sena, Ranvir Sena, and Brahmharshi Sena were created on the basis of Bhumihar, Yadav, and Rajput caste affiliations. Instead of defending themselves against the Naxalites, they have killed members of other castes and became a new source of violence in the state. In 2006, District Judge, Avinash Kumar Sinha, sentenced 28 persons to 10 years rigorous imprisonment for attacking dalits in a land dispute in Bela village under Jamalpur police station. In 2000, a massacre occurred in Lakhisarai, where 11 people died. The violence was related to a struggle for control of a sand quarry in the Ganges and Son riverbeds. The fight for supremacy between the upper backward classes in the region and the ruling party led to the killing of eleven labourers. In the same year, the agrarian movement in Bihar led to a struggle between the upper castes and lower castes in Rajebhigha, with Akhilesh Singh alleged to be the prime accused in this incident which killed five persons. In that year, the Afsar tragedy took place, where 12 villagers categorised as Bhumihars were killed in the Afsar village in Kashichak block of Nawada district. The victims were relatives of other caste clashes that had taken place prior to this incident. In Mianpur Aurangabad, the Ranvir Sena killed 35 persons belonging to the backward and scheduled castes.

The job of security officials in these areas is difficult as this type of violence erupting is not similar to that in other states. The Bihar state government has thought of rehabilitating women who are victims of this violence in different parts of Bihar by providing monetary assistance and jobs on compassionate grounds. However, for providing security to prevent such incidents a lot needs to be done. The victims say that, not only have the police been complacent in these areas, but they are sometimes even party to the killings. The police say in reply that the weapons provided to them are outdated, which is the reason why they had failed to prevent these violent attacks. Their outdated weapons, they claim, cannot match the SLRs, LMGs, and AK 47 used by the perpetrators of violence. Further the police to population ratio in Bihar ensures that very few policemen are posted in large constituencies to maintain law and order in this huge state.

There were also allegations of lack of political will to motivate the police to stop these killings. During this period, a number of SPs were transferred without any reason. More importantly the hue and cry by human right activists has reduced the use of fire power by the police. They are only expected to fire at the legs of the perpetrators of crime while the extremists fire at the chest of the police officers.

The solutions to remedy this situation include development of rural regions in Bihar. Better roads should be constructed, medical and educational facilities should be made functional. The police should conduct raids on criminals and develop their own contacts within civil society. Further, the criminal prosecution of the accused in such cases must be publicised. Delay in the dispensation of justice must also be stopped. If required, the military should be asked to help if the police force falls short in the struggle to combat violence in Bihar.