CPIML Arwal district committee member, Sunil Chandravanshi (55 yeas old), was murdered on 9 September 2024 when he was returning on his motorbike to his village in the evening. The killers ambushed and shot him at a rice mill near Imamganj Bazar police station. He was murdered by a gang associated with the BJP, led by criminals like Jumman, Raju, and Chandrakant Sharma.
Sunil Chandravanshi, an active member of CPI(ML) since 2012, was a prominent figure in local struggles like demands for proper electricity and better roads. He was incharge of the party's work in the northern part of Karpi area. His activism made him a target of local feudal and criminal elements. The electricity was brought due to his efforts in many villages in the area, like Mohar Bigha, Chhakkan Bigha and Konark Nagar. He also launched a struggle for construction of roads in these three villages which become unreachable during monsoons due to floods. He was successful in constructing a pucca road up to Mohar Bigha with the help of local CPIML MLA fund. But the government refused to build a road for Chhakkan Bigha, despite raising of this issue inside the Bihar Assembly by CPIML MLAs. Even then comrade Sunil did not relent and decided to make a road with people's participation. He gave a call for Shramdaan (labour contribution) as well as financial contributions, and in this year only a one kilometre long road has been built by the villagers themselves! He also contested election for village mukhiya in Aiyara panchayat in 2017.
Jumman-Raju-Chandrakant Sharma Gang and Political Nexus
This is a known fact that the murderous gang of Jumman-Raji-Chandrakant Sharma had worked for BJP in the last Lok Sabha elections. In a time, when killers of big massacres like Laxmanpur-Bathe and Shankar Bigha are exonerated, the morale of such criminals has been boosted to unprecedented heights under the BJP-JDU regime. On the other hand, dalits and the poor are being displaced from their homes and ponds using bulldozers and people’s popular leaders are being implicated in false cases and even assassinated.
In 2013, four dalit labourers belonging to the Bind community were massacred by this gang in an attempt to capture a fish pond. Sanjay Singh of Imamganj Bazar also lost his life for daring to oppose this gang, Shravan Mahto was killed for not paying extortion money, this gang also murdered Devratan Mahto and Lalan Mahto. This gang had burnt down a shop because its owner refused to pay hafta, extortion money. This gang still continues to extort regularly from the shops in Imamganj Bazar, in spite of the fact that the police station is also situated in this market. This criminal gang has monopolised fish production amounting to lakhs of rupees in the area, with many major ponds including Bhainsasur Aahar, Jamharu Naala and Mungila Naala. Technically the ponds are auctioned by the administration but in reality this gang wins all the auctions at very cheap rates because of its terror tactics and connivance with the officials. Comrade Sunil Chandravanshi has been raising his voice against this reign of terror and corruption, hence he was targeted and killed.
Protest Against Murder
The brutal murder of CPIML leader Comrade Sunil Chandravanshi has sparked widespread protests and a district-wide bandh in Arwal, Bihar on September 11. The bandh, marked by large gatherings and demonstrations, received good support from the public, with shops largely remaining closed. Protesters demanded the arrest of Com. Sunil Chandravanshi's killers, monetary compensation to the victim's family, a government job to one of his family members, and action against the police station that allegedly failed to curb the gang's activities.
A Pratirodh Sabha, resistance meeting, was organised on September 21, 2024, at Imamganj Bazaar, which was addressed by Comrade Dipankar Bhattacharya, General Secretary of CPIML and Comrade Sudama Prasad, National Organization Secretary of All India Kisan Mahasabha and MP from Ara. The sabha noted that the BJP-JD(U) government’s policies have emboldened the criminals and feudal forces leading to a rise in attacks on Dalits and the most vulnerable communities.
CPIML pays Comrade Sunil Chandravanshi tributes and condolences to his bereaved family and friends, and pledges to fulfil his unfinished dream.
Red Salute to Comrade Sunil Chandravanshi!
