Jehanabad, Oct. 27: Residents of Senari village in Arwal district fear reprisals from Maoists after a Jehanabad court today convicted 15 people for the massacre of 34 upper caste people in 1999.
The massacre was carried out by the Maoist Communist Centre, a Naxal outfit that later merged with other rebel groups to form the CPI(Maoist).
A Jehanabad court headed by district and sessions judge-III Ranjeet Kumar Singh today held 15 people guilty for the murder and attempt to murder 34 people at Senari village under the jurisdiction of then Jehanabad district (now Arwal) on March 18, 1999. The court, however, acquitted 23 people for lack of evidence.
The quantum of punishment would be pronounced on November 15.
Apprehending trouble at the village, 37 km southwest of Jehanabad district headquarters town, the district administration has set up a police picket there. Bansi police station house officer Sudhir Kumar said an officer and 15 Bihar Military Police personnel would man the picket.
Surendra Sharma, 63, who lost five members of his family in the massacre, said they apprehend a repeat of the massacre. He said of the 15 persons held guilty, only one was a named accused in the FIR lodged by Chinta Devi, who had lost her husband and son.
The main conspirators, such as Ramashish Majhi, Bhond Majhi, Radhe Shyam Kahar, Murgi Majhi and Buta Thakur, were still absconding. "They are very much involved in Maoist incidents in neighbouring Aurangabad and Gaya districts. But the police have failed to arrest them," Sharma said.
The callous attitude of the district authorities can be gauged from the fact that accused Radhe Shyam, handed over to police days after the incident by residents, escaped from police custody while being taken to court. "He is since absconding," another resident Baliram Sharma, (65), said.
Tension was palpable at the village. Youngsters have been asked to keep an eye on strangers. "We are keeping a close eye on visitors to every house in the village, which has a population of around 2,000," said Saurabh Kumar.
Ajay Sharma, (40), said: "It was around 7.30pm. Around 40-50 attackers forcibly took us to Thakurbari and tied our hands and feet. We were shocked to see several other residents there. Within minutes they slit their throats, including of my brother Ranjay who had married weeks ago." The men, in police uniform, also attacked Ajay and left him thinking he was dead. "Hours later, residents arrived and rushed me to a hospital in Gaya, where I spent months," Ajay said.
Another survivor Sri Mohan Sharma, (45), said he was kidnapped from his house. "They knocked at my door. When my uncle Ramshrit Sharma opened the door, they barged in and dragged me outside. My hands were tied. I fought with them for a while but they attacked me with a sword. My throat was later slit. I was found lying in a pool of blood behind my house," he said.
The Senari carnage was fallout of the massacre of 58 Dalits at Laxmanpur Bathe, around 40km north of Senari, by the outlawed Ranvir Sena, an upper caste private militia of land owners.
The massacre led to the killing of 34 people at Miyapur in Aurangabad district.
