A chilling revelation caught on camera by Cobrapost’s latest sting operation ‘Black Rain’ exposes the impunity with which Ranveer Sena carried out mass murders of dalits in Central Bihar between 1995 and 2000. Close to 144 people, including women and children, had died during these six massacres in Sarthua (1995), Bathani Tola (1996), Laxmanpur Bathe (1997), Shankar Bigha (1999), Miyanpur (2000) and Ikwari (1997).
The film shows six Ranveer Sena commanders admitting to their crimes and naming some high profile politicians including former PM Chandra Shekhar, Yashwant Sinha, Murli Manohar Joshi and Sushil Singh Modi for helping the Sena.
The six Ranveer Sena men are Chandkeshwar, Ravindra Chaudhary, Pramod Singh, Bhola Singh, Arvind Kumar Singh and Siddhnath Singh.
Most Brazen Killings
The documentary shows how Ranveer Sena organised several planned horrific massacres of Dalits when they started to demand due wages from upper caste landlords under the banner of CPI-ML (Liberation).
The blood curling accounts of these brazen attacks reveal the most diabolical intention of the banned outfit who carried out the mass murders with precision and ruthlessness. They did not spare even pregnant women, tearing their wombs open and killing the unborn.
Chandkeshwar alias Chandreshwar, accused in Laxmanpur Bathe massacre was let off by the Patna High Court in Oct, 2013. He confesses not only to his involvement in the 1996 Bathani Tola massacre but also to have single-handedly beheaded five low-caste fishermen with his knife.
Bhola Singh Rai let off by the lower courts, still wanted by the Bihar Police is hiding in the steel city of Tata Nagar in Jharkhand. He too confesses to have taken part in the gruesome killing of 58 Dalits at Laxmanpur Bathe.
According to Cobrapost expose, the dreaded Sena cadres consisting mainly of Bhumihar and Rajput landlords allegedly received training from military jawans. Donations from their supporters helped the Sena procure weapons including dozens of AK-47 that were part of the 1995 Purulia arms drop.
Political Patronage?
The on-camera confessions of the Sena cadres show how they enjoyed the political patronage both at the centre and state levels. They even make reference to political bigwigs trying to influence the police probe.
Siddhnath, an aide of Ranveer Sena chief Brahmeshwar Singh Mukhiya who owns up his involvement in six major massacres alleges the support of former PM Chandra Shekhar in procuring arms.
Pramod Singh, another accused in Laxmanpur Bathe massacre, set free by the Patna High Court too says they received both monetary and political support from the then finance minister Yashwant Sinha.
In an article, investigative web portal Cobrapost claims that it has reached out to political leaders, but none have commented on the revelations of ‘Operation Black Rain’.
Travesty of Justice
The documentary also highlights how justice has been delayed and denied to the victims with two of these six accused ( Chandkeshwar and Pramod Singh) being set free by Patna High Court due to lack of evidence. Bhola Singh, Arvind Kumar Singh and Siddhnath Singh were also let off the by the lower courts. When interviewed by Cobrapost, they have unabashedly admitted to these mass murders.
The on camera confessions also reveal some of the Sena’s gruesome failed strategies and the ugly reality of India’s deeply entrenched caste bias.
For instance, Ravindra Chaudhry, accused of participating in Sarthua (Bhojpur) massacre case, shows no remorse even while confessing to killing of innocent women and children.
Many of the accused including Arvind Singh have managed to wriggle out of the criminal judicial system by arriving at a compromise with the families of the victims. Arvind, accused in Laxmanpur Bathe massacre and let off by the lower courts, tells Cobrapost how he managed to stay free.
The Cobrapost investigation also points to the “abrupt dismissal” of the 1997 Justice Amir Das Commission of Inquiry hinting a political play at the behest of JD(U)-BJP alliance that came to power in 2005.
Meanwhile, the acquittals have been challenged in the Supreme Court and the cases are subjudice.
Posing as a filmmaker interested in making a documentary on Ranveer Sena, Cobrapost Associate Editor K. Ashish spoke to the outfit cadres over a period of one year that led to these shocking revelations.
(With inputs from Neelima and Renu.)
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