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Bhumi Sena

2022-11-21T15:10:50Z

162.158.227.140:

{{short description|Private army in India (1970s-1990s)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox war faction
| name = Bhumi Sena
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| war = [[Naxalite–Maoist insurgency]]
| image =
| caption =
| active = 1982–1990
| position =
| leaders =
| clans =
| headquarters = [[Nalanda]], [[Bihar]]
| area = [[Nalanda]], [[ Jehanabad district |Jahanabad]], [[Patna]]
| size =
| partof =
| predecessor =
| successor = Bhumisena.org
| allies = [[Ranvir Sena]], [[Kuer Sena]] Now - None
| split =
| battles =
| website =
}}

'''Bhumi Sena''' was a private army which operated in the [[Patna]], [[Nalanda]], [[Jehanabad]], and [[Gaya district|Gaya]] regions of [[Bihar|Bihar, India]] in the 1980s, made up of members of the [[Kurmi]] caste.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/a-lasting-signature-on-bihar-s-most-violent-years/957421/2|title=A lasting signature on Bihar's most violent years - Indian Express|website=archive.indianexpress.com|access-date=2018-12-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/article30246093.ece|title=End of a terror trail|first=KALYAN|last=CHAUDHURI|website=Frontline|accessdate=2020-11-04}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Kunnath|first=George J.|date=2009|title=Smouldering Dalit fires in Bihar, India|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/29790891|journal=Dialectical Anthropology|volume=33|issue=3/4|pages=309–325|doi=10.1007/s10624-009-9134-5|jstor=29790891|s2cid=143443718|issn=0304-4092}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Kumar|first=Ashwani|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=num2I4NFGqIC&q=mahavir+Mahto+formed+Bhumi+sena&pg=PA104|title=Community Warriors: State, Peasants and Caste Armies in Bihar|date=2008|publisher=Anthem Press|isbn=978-1-84331-709-8|location=|pages=107–108|language=en}}</ref>

==History==
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 [[Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) People's War|CPI (ML) People's War]], [[Central Organising Committee, Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Party Unity|CPI (ML) Party Unity]], and the [[Mazdoor Kisan Sangram Samiti|MKSS]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite journal|date=1986|title=Agrarian Movement in Jehanabad|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4375648|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|volume=21|issue=19|pages=813–815|jstor=4375648|issn=0012-9976}}</ref> Following its formation, the group gathered resources and arms from Kurmi households, and encouraged Kurmi youths to join.<ref name=":0" /> They continued to collect [[Protection racket|protection money]] from Kurmi families in the regions they were active in.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

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.<ref name=":0" />

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.<ref name=":0" />

Bhumi Sena held increasingly limited influence throughout the latter half of the 1980s, amidst continued attack by leftist groups and a changing political landscape.<ref name=":1" />

== See also ==
* [[Ranvir Sena]]
* [[Kuer Sena]]
*[[List of caste based violence in Bihar]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Paramilitary organisations based in India]]
[[Category:Private armies]]
==External link==
*[https://publications.cpiml.net/book/report-from-the-flaming-fields-of-bihar-the-reactions/4-%E2%80%98private-armies-at-war%E2%80%99 Report from the flaming fields of Bihar.]

Ashok Mahto gang

2022-07-29T05:59:49Z

162.158.227.140:

{{short description|Caste based gang involved in massacre of upper caste people }}
The '''Ashok Mahto gang''' was a criminal gang in the Indian state of [[Bihar]], led by Ashok Mahto and consisted of members such as Pintu Mahto. Ashok Mahto and his gang were responsible for the killing of a sitting [[Member of parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]] (''Lok Sabha''), [[Rajo Singh]], in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/mahto-keeps-mum-on-allegation-against-lalan-and-cm/406746|title=Mahto keeps mum on allegation against Lalan and CM|date=14 August 2006|website=Outlook India|others=Press Trust of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190304040709/https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/mahto-keeps-mum-on-allegation-against-lalan-and-cm/406746|archive-date=4 March 2019|access-date=2019-03-04}}</ref> Although Ashok Mahto was imprisoned , he escaped from Nawada jail in 2002.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2003/02/17/stories/2003021705531300.htm|title=A revenge attack?|last=Balchand|first=K.|date=17 February 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040927205357/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2003/02/17/stories/2003021705531300.htm|archive-date=27 September 2004|url-status=dead|website=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=2019-03-04}}</ref> Pintu Mahto killed three policemen during the prison break.<ref name=":1" /> The leaders of the gang are said to be belonging to either [[Kurmi-Mahto]] Caste. But , it was supported by all the backward castes in the Nawada and Sheikhpura region as Mahto gang was in a war of retribution with the upper caste [[Bhumihar]]s who were exploitative. Mahto and his gang were responsible for the assassination of a large number of [[Forward Caste]] people in late 90s.<ref name="rediff"/><ref name="Mishra"/><ref name="indianexpress"/>
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox war faction
| name = Ashok Mahto gang <ref name="rediff"/><ref name="Mishra"/><ref name="indianexpress"/>
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| war = "Caste wars of Bihar"
| image =
| caption =
| active = 1990s
| position =
| leaders = Ashok Mahto, Pintu Mahto
| clans = [[Kurmi-Mahto]]
| headquarters = [[Nawada]] and [[Sheikhpura]]
| area =
| size =
| partof =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| allies =
| split =
| battles =
| website =
}}

== Mahto - Singh rivalry ==
The rivalry between Mahto and another gangster Akhilesh Singh affected over 100 villages in the Nawada, [[Nalanda]] and Sheikhpura districts of Bihar.<ref name="Mishra">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Singh-Mahto-crossfire-has-affected-100-Bihar-villages/articleshow/38007968.cms|title=Singh-Mahto crossfire has affected 100 Bihar villages|last=Mishra|first=Dipak|date=20 February 2003|website=The Times of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901135703/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com//city/patna/Singh-Mahto-crossfire-has-affected-100-Bihar-villages/articleshow/38007968.cms|archive-date=1 September 2017|url-status=live|access-date=2019-03-04}}</ref> Between 1998 and 2006, the war which claimed over 200 lives in [[Nawada district]] alone, stemmed from caste conflict between the Bhumihars and Koeris.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://openthemagazine.com/features/india/the-liberation-struggle-of-bihar/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213170438/https://openthemagazine.com/features/india/the-liberation-struggle-of-bihar/|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 December 2020|title=The Liberation Struggle of Bihar|first=P. R.|last=Ramesh|date=15 October 2015|work=Open Magazine|accessdate=2020-04-30}}^ Bihar’s Koeris joined hands with their once-bitter enemies, the land-owning Bhumihars, a group of upper- castes with whom they has been engaged in battles in Nitish Kumar’s own Nalanda district (besides Nawada and Sheikhpura) under the leadership of Ashok Mahto. </ref> The clash between the two groups would decide power over the "stone-crushing" and "sand lifting" arrangements in the areas of rivalry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/nitish-s-record-gets-beating/story-AdqNMkOeMQZib970lxtiiI.html|title=Nitish's record gets beating|date=23 May 2006|website=Hindustan Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190304042051/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/nitish-s-record-gets-beating/story-AdqNMkOeMQZib970lxtiiI.html|archive-date=4 March 2019|access-date=2019-03-04}}</ref>In 2003, the Mahto gang allegedly killed the father of a [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of the Legislative Assembly]] (MLA), Aruna Devi (wife of Akhilesh Singh), and five others, including a six-year-old boy. It was reported that the killings were in retaliation for the deaths of seven labourers allegedly by the Akhilesh Singh gang.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2003/feb/16bihar.htm|title=MLAs' kin among seven killed in Bihar gang war|date=16 February 2003|website=Rediff|others=Press Trust of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050414061422/http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/feb/16bihar.htm|archive-date=14 April 2005|access-date=2019-03-04}}</ref> In 2000 they attacked the same MLA's house and killed over 12 people.<ref name=":0" />

The Mahto-Singh rivalry was not merely a rivalry between two gangs for supremacy but the mobilisation of castes in support of each of these two gangs was also taking place. During 2005 elections Aruna Devi, the wife of Akhilesh Singh was one of the candidate for legislative assembly elections from the region on the ticket of [[Lok Janshakti Party]]. According to one of her supporter, all the charges of murders and abductions upon Akhilesh Singh were frivolous and he had just taken up the arms to fight for the honour of his community i.e upper caste Bhumihars. Similarly, Ashok Mahto and his men were said to have taken over the responsibility to protect the rights of downtrodden Koeri community as well as other backward castes. Aruna Devi also faced opposition from [[Pradeep Mahto]], the nephew of Ashok Mahto, who also had several charges against him. Ashok Mahto was also responsible for killing a large number of upper caste people in the area which was famous for [[Sand]] mining and [[Potato]] cultivation.<ref name="rediff">{{cite web|url=https://m.rediff.com/election/2005/feb/03spec.htm|title=Laloo, Aaloo and Baloo|website=reddif.com|first=Salil|last=Kumar|accessdate=2020-07-25}}</ref>

==Arrests and trial==
The Ashok Mahto gang consisted of gangsters such as Pintu Mahto , who had nearly thirty cases of murder and kidnapping to his name, including the murder of three policemen and Congress politician Rajo Singh. Pintu Mahto was responsible for the Ashok Mahto gang in areas of Nawada district such as [[Warisaliganj]] and [[Sheikhpura]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Ashok-Mahto-aide-held-in-Deoghar/articleshow/1717617.cms|title=Ashok Mahto aide held in Deoghar|date=9 July 2006|website=The Times of India|others=Times News Network|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190304040955/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Ashok-Mahto-aide-held-in-Deoghar/articleshow/1717617.cms|archive-date=4 March 2019|url-status=live|access-date=2019-03-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.uniindia.com/dreaded-criminal-killed-in-gang-war/states/news/1368991.html|title=Dreaded criminal killed in gang war|date=4 October 2018|work=United News of India|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> Besides this the Mahto gang also included the members like Sharda Yadav , who was convicted in massacre of 11 upper caste people at the Apshar village and was also convicted of loots and abduction. He was arrested in 2003 along with 9 other aides.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://zeenews.india.com/home/10-members-of-dreaded-ashok-mahto-gang-arrested-in-bihar_89888.html|title=10-members-of-dreaded-ashok-mahto-gang-arrested-in-bihar|website=Zeenews.com|accessdate=2020-07-25}}</ref> "Ariyari" Police also got success in arresting Bacchu Mahto, the sharpshooter of Mahto gang. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oneindia.com/2006/03/12/dreaded-criminal-arrested-1142229091.html|title=dreaded-criminal-arrested|website= oneindia.com|accessdate=2020-07-25}}</ref> Ashok Mahto himself was finally arrested in 2006, while he was on the way to court, the Bihar Police Special authority police(SAP) officers carried out a procession in which half naked bleeding Mahto was dressed in garland of slippers. This incident sparked controversy and the backward castes of the region saw it as a punishment to the gangster which was meted out to him bacause of his dare to stand upto Bhumihars. Mahto enjoyed considerable support among backwards and thus his public humiliation aroused questions that can the Police humiliate an upper caste gangster in a similar manner. <ref name="indianexpress">{{cite web|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/on-way-to-court-bihar-cops-parade-gangster-with-garland-of-slippers/10698/|title=on-way-to-court-bihar-cops-parade-gangster-with-garland-of-slippers|website=archive.indianexpress.com|accessdate=2020-07-25}}</ref>

After his attendance in the court, Supritendent of Police Amit lodha claimed that Mahto had made a confession of his involvement in Rajo Singh murder case. Mahto however also claimed of his linkage with JD(U) leader Rajeev Ranjan Singh or Lalan Singh. Meanwhile, he also pointed out towards his close ties with [[Chief Minister]] [[Nitish Kumar]]. These claims were not taken seriously by the Court and the Police. The opposition [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]] and Lok Janshakti Party pressed for CBI enquiry in the whole issue and asked Lalan Singh to resign. The Chief Minister himself was under pressure from the opposition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/mahto-keeps-mum-on-allegation-against-lalan-and-cm/406746|title=Mahto-keeps-mum-on-allegation-against-lalan-and-cm|website=Outlookindia.com|accessdate=2020-07-25}}</ref>

In 2013, a court of Sheikhpura cleared Ashok Mahto , Shambhu Yadav and Anil Mahto in Rajo Singh murder case. All these were convicted for the murder of erstwhile Congress leader of Sheikhpura but in the absence of evidence they were cleared. Presently, Ashok Mahto is incarcerated in [[Nawada]] jail. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.aajtak.in/states-news/bihar-news/story/ashok-mahato-released-in-rajo-singh-murder-case-733338-2013-06-13|title=Ashok-mahato-released-in-rajo-singh-murder-case|website=aajtak|accessdate=2020-07-25}}</ref>

==In popular culture ==
Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Amit Lodha was posted in [[Sheikhpura]] during the time of the arrest of Pintu Mahto. In 2018 he penned a book ''Bihar Diaries'' that doesn't name anyone directly, but media reports match the story to the life of Pintu Mahto.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/decorated-top-cop-pens-cat-and-mouse-tale-of-nabbing-bihar-s-dreaded-outlaw-118071400176_1.html|title=Decorated top cop pens cat-and-mouse tale of nabbing Bihar's dreaded outlaw|last=IANS|date=14 July 2018|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2019-03-04}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Afsar massacre]]

== References ==
<references />
{{Organised crime in India}}

[[Category:Organised crime groups in India]]
[[Category:Criminals from Bihar]]

Battle of Shakar Kheda

2022-05-14T13:09:23Z

162.158.227.140:

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{one source|date=January 2017}}
{{unreliable sources|date=January 2017}}
}}

{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=Battle of Shakar Kheda
|partof=
|date= 11 October 1724
|place=[[Sakarkherda]] in [[Buldhana|Buldhana District]], [[India]]
|result=Nizam’s victory, and Independence of [[Hyderabad Deccan]]
| combatant1 = [[File:Asafia flag of Hyderabad State.png|22px|border]] [[Nizam of Hyderabad]]
| combatant2 = [[Mughal Empire]]
|commander1=[[Qamar-ud-din Khan, Asaf Jah I|Nizam-ul-Mulk]]
|commander2=[[Mubariz Khan]] {{KIA}}
|strength1=Unknown
|strength2= Unknown
|casualties1=Unknown
|casualties2=Unknown but moderate to heavy
}}

The ''' Battle of Shakoor Kheda''' took place on 11 October 1724 at [[Shakar Kheda|Shakoor Kheda]] (Shakar Khela or Sankar Kedla) in [[Berar Subah|Berar]], 80 miles from [[Aurangabad, Maharashtra|Aurangabad]] between [[Qamar-ud-din Khan, Asaf Jah I|Nizam-ul-Mulk]] and [[Mubariz Khan]], [[Subedar]] of Deccan.

==Prelude==
In 1714, Mughal emperor [[Farrukhsiyar]] appointed [[Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah I|Nizam-ul-Mulk]] (also known as Nizam, Nizam I, and Asaf Jah I) as [[Viceroy of the Deccan]]. Deccan consisted of six Mughal governorates ([[Subah]]): [[Khandesh]], [[Bijapur]], [[Vidarbha|Berar]], [[Aurangabad]], [[Hyderabad]], [[Bidar]], and [[Carnatic region]] was sub-Subah administered partly by governor of Bijapur and Hyderabad. In 1721, Nizam was commissioned to [[Delhi]] and became Prime Minister of the [[Mughal Empire]]. His differences with the court nobles led him to resign from all the imperial responsibilities in 1723 and leave for Deccan.<ref name="Mehta">{{cite book|title=Advanced Study in the History of Modern India: 1707–1813|last=Mehta|first=Jaswant Lal|year=2005|publisher=[[Sterling Publishing]]|isbn=978-1-932705-54-6}}</ref>{{rp|143}}<ref name="Roy">{{cite book|title=Holy Ignorance: When Religion and Culture Part Ways|last=Roy|first=Olivier|year=2011|publisher=[[Columbia University Press]]|isbn=978-0-231-80042-6}}</ref>{{rp|95}}

Under the influence of Nizam's opponents, Mughal Emperor [[Muhammad Shah]] issued a decree to [[Mubariz Khan]], the governor of Hyderabad, to prevent the Nizam from taking the Deccan province under his control. Nizam and Mubariz Khan confronted each other at Shaker Kheda (a valley in present-day [[Buldhana district]], [[Berar Subah]], {{convert|80|km|mi}} from [[Aurangabad]]), resulting in the Battle of Shakar Kheda.<ref name="Mehta"/>{{rp|93{{hyphen}}94}}

== Events ==
Mubariz Khan marched from [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]] against Nizam-ul-Mulk who was ready to meet the challenge. Both fought for some time and at last at Shakar Kheda. In this decisive battle against great odds, [[Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah I]] defeated and killed Mubariz Khan. After the victory of Nizam, officers and soldiers who took part in the battle were rewarded with cash and titles.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}

== Aftermath ==
In the next year, Emperor [[Muhammad Shah Rangeela]] conferred the title of '''Asaf Jah''' to Nizam-ul-Mulk and reappointed him as Subedar of the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]] province on 25 June 1725.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://hydhistory.blogspot.jp/ hyderabad history]

[[Category:Conflicts in 1724|Shakar Kheda]]
[[Category:1724 in India]]
[[Category:Hyderabad State]]

{{India-hist-stub}}
{{Mughal-stub}}