Bhumi Sena was formed by Kurmi landowners in 1982, in response to the murders of a number of prominent landlords and political agitation among Dalit labourers by the leftist groups CPI (ML) People's War, CPI (ML) Party Unity, and the MKSS.[3][4][5] Following its formation, the group gathered resources and arms from Kurmi households, and encouraged Kurmi youths to join.[3] They continued to collect protection money from Kurmi families in the regions they were active in.[3][4]
Bhumi Sena soon began to combat the leftist groups they opposed, with a series of attacks on Dalits and Maoist sympathisers, including those of the group's own Kurmi caste. Between 1982 and 1985, the group killed 65 people, set 216 houses ablaze, and drove 325 families out of their villages.[3]
The leftist groups responded by killing Bhumi Sena members, and imposing an economic blockade on the Kurmi landlords supporting the group. This strategy found success in 1984, when leftist activists burned the Kurmi landlords' harvest. The landlords agreed to cease support of the group, and paid fines in proportion to their level of support.[3]
Bhumi Sena held increasingly limited influence throughout the latter half of the 1980s, amidst continued attack by leftist groups and a changing political landscape.[4]
^"A lasting signature on Bihar's most violent years - Indian Express". archive.indianexpress.com. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
^CHAUDHURI, KALYAN. "End of a terror trail". Frontline. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
^ abcdefKunnath, George J. (2009). "Smouldering Dalit fires in Bihar, India". Dialectical Anthropology. 33 (3/4): 309–325. doi:10.1007/s10624-009-9134-5. ISSN 0304-4092. JSTOR 29790891. S2CID 143443718.
^ abcdKumar, Ashwani (2008). Community Warriors: State, Peasants and Caste Armies in Bihar. Anthem Press. pp. 107–108. ISBN978-1-84331-709-8.
^"Agrarian Movement in Jehanabad". Economic and Political Weekly. 21 (19): 813–815. 1986. ISSN 0012-9976. JSTOR 4375648.
External linksedit
Report from the flaming fields of Bihar.
January 01, 1970
bhumi, sena, transl, land, army, private, army, which, operated, patna, nalanda, jehanabad, gaya, regions, bihar, india, 1980s, made, members, kurmi, caste, dates, operation1982, 1990headquartersnalanda, biharactive, regionsnalanda, jahanabad, patnaalliesranvi. Bhumi Sena transl Land Army was a private army which operated in the Patna Nalanda Jehanabad and Gaya regions of Bihar India in the 1980s made up of members of the Kurmi caste 1 2 3 4 Bhumi SenaDates of operation1982 1990HeadquartersNalanda BiharActive regionsNalanda Jahanabad PatnaAlliesRanvir Sena Kuer Sena Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory editBhumi Sena was formed by Kurmi landowners in 1982 in response to the murders of a number of prominent landlords and political agitation among Dalit labourers by the leftist groups CPI ML People s War CPI ML Party Unity and the MKSS 3 4 5 Following its formation the group gathered resources and arms from Kurmi households and encouraged Kurmi youths to join 3 They continued to collect protection money from Kurmi families in the regions they were active in 3 4 Bhumi Sena soon began to combat the leftist groups they opposed with a series of attacks on Dalits and Maoist sympathisers including those of the group s own Kurmi caste Between 1982 and 1985 the group killed 65 people set 216 houses ablaze and drove 325 families out of their villages 3 The leftist groups responded by killing Bhumi Sena members and imposing an economic blockade on the Kurmi landlords supporting the group This strategy found success in 1984 when leftist activists burned the Kurmi landlords harvest The landlords agreed to cease support of the group and paid fines in proportion to their level of support 3 Bhumi Sena held increasingly limited influence throughout the latter half of the 1980s amidst continued attack by leftist groups and a changing political landscape 4 See also editRanvir Sena Kuer Sena List of caste based violence in BiharReferences edit A lasting signature on Bihar s most violent years Indian Express archive indianexpress com Retrieved 18 December 2018 CHAUDHURI KALYAN End of a terror trail Frontline Retrieved 4 November 2020 a b c d e f Kunnath George J 2009 Smouldering Dalit fires in Bihar India Dialectical Anthropology 33 3 4 309 325 doi 10 1007 s10624 009 9134 5 ISSN 0304 4092 JSTOR 29790891 S2CID 143443718 a b c d Kumar Ashwani 2008 Community Warriors State Peasants and Caste Armies in Bihar Anthem Press pp 107 108 ISBN 978 1 84331 709 8 Agrarian Movement in Jehanabad Economic and Political Weekly 21 19 813 815 1986 ISSN 0012 9976 JSTOR 4375648 External links editReport from the flaming fields of Bihar Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bhumi Sena amp oldid 1209384348, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
