As Ranvir Sena imposes bandh, Guv rushes back

The continuing violence by supporters of Ranvir Sena, a once-powerful private army of landlords, to protest the murder of their leader Brahmeswar Singh, has made the political establishment sit up.

The continuing violence by supporters of Ranvir Sena, a once-powerful private army of landlords, to protest the murder of their leader Brahmeswar Singh, has made the political establishment sit up.

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On Sunday, as the Sena supporters indulged in largescale violence to impose a day-long bandh in the state, Governor Devanand Konwar cut short a visit to Assam and rushed back to Patna to take stock of the situation.

“The governor has sought a report from the Bihar administration on the violent incidents in Patna and elsewhere,” said an official.

CM Nitish Kumar reached Kishanganj to begin his scheduled ‘sewa yatra’, but it is doubtful whether the Bhojpur leg of the yatra — scheduled from June 7 to June 9 — will be held.

Sunday’s bandh was observed in Jehanabad, Arwal, Lakhisarai districts and rural areas of Patna district. Vehicles were stoned, national highways between Jehanabad and Arwal, and Patna and Gaya blocked and boulders put on rail tracks.

Singh had been shot dead by unidentified assailants on Friday. The Bihar government will recommend a CBI probe into the murder if his family members ask for it, said the ruling alliance partner BJP.

LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan, meanwhile, demanded the dismissal of the Nitish Kumar government, alleging a "political conspiracy" behind Singh's killing.

Addressing a media conference in Delhi, he said, "For days, Singh was giving statements against the state government”.

“If Maoists kill anybody, they own up, which did not happen in this case,” he added."