The Hindu : A revenge attack?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 17, 2003

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A revenge attack?

By K.Balchand

PATNA Feb. 16. The ongoing gang rivalry in Nawada district, on caste lines, claimed seven more lives at Konchgaon village last night.

In obvious retaliation to the losses suffered last week, the Ashok Mahto gang allegedly ambushed a jeep near Mehandipur More, killing Kailash Singh, the father of the Independent MLA, Aruna Devi, (whose husband Akhilesh Singh is cooling his heels in Central Jail, Patna), and Nunu Lal Singh, uncle of the Jharkhand Mines Minister, Ravindra Rai, besides five others.

The killers spared the women in the jeep, but shot dead a six-year-old boy. Among those killed were five Bhumihars and two of the Sahu (Bania) community.

Ashok Mahto is at large after he escaped from the Nawada jail last year. Last night's killing was reportedly to avenge the murder of seven Dalits and backward class labourers of the Ashok Mahto gang by the rival group led by Akhilesh Singh, over a sand mining dispute on Wednesday last. It was also the second attack on the independent MLA in just over two years. The Ashok Mahto gang had attacked her home three years ago and killed more than a dozen of her supporters then.

The current warfare between the two gangs has claimed more than 35 lives and it has become the pattern each year in the recent past. Sources claim that the rivalry has left more than 100 people dead in the Warsaliganj block— the constituency Aruna Devi represents.

The two gangs have successfully won the support of their respective caste groups in this war of attrition, despite the number of innocent people falling prey to their animosity.

Tension prevailed in Warsaliganj, with the supporters of the victims not allowing the police and the media to enter the village. Senior officials camping at the massacre site were pleading with the locals to hand over the dead for post mortem.

SP removed

PTI, UNI report:

The Nawada Superintendent of Police, B.B. Prasad, was today removed following the killing of 14 persons in the gang war during the last four days.

As a precautionary measure, the Railways have suspended train services on the Gaya-Kiul section as the gangs in the past have targetted trains to give vent to their anger. Meanwhile, the district unit of the BJP has given a bandh call tomorrow.

The Nawada district administration announced compensation of Rs. 50,000 to each of the bereaved families. The District Magistrate, N. Vijayalakshmi, announced an additional Rs. 500 each for the affected families for performing the last rites.

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A revenge attack?