Evan692365 at 04:23, 16 March 2026

2026-03-16T04:23:22Z

New page

{{Short description|Communist militia group in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Lal Sena
| native_name = लाल सेना
| image = [[File:Lal sena.jpg|200px]]
| dates = 1974–1976<ref name="auto4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/terroristoutfits/Private_armies.htm|title=Private caste armies in Bihar, South Asia Terrorism Portal|website=www.satp.org|access-date=2016-12-13|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313145712/http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/terroristoutfits/Private_armies.htm|archivedate=2017-03-13}}</ref>
Traces of activity until 1990s<ref name="auto11">{{Cite news|url=https://in.news.yahoo.com/dalits-still-untouchable-220208450.html|title=The Dalits {{!}} Still untouchable|access-date=2016-12-15|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221010305/https://in.news.yahoo.com/dalits-still-untouchable-220208450.html|archivedate=2016-12-21}}</ref>
| allegiance = [[CPI(ML) Liberation]]
| type = Armed Guerrilla Squad
| role = Land Seizure from the landlords, Guerrilla warfare
}}

'''Lal Sena''' (लाल सेना; lit. '''Red Army''') was an organised armed militia of [[Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation|CPIML Liberation]] in northeastern India, across the terrains of central [[Bihar]], north-west of today's [[Jharkhand]], and a few districts of eastern [[Uttar Pradesh]]. It was formed mainly by lower caste (middle and lower class) peasantry and landless labourers. It was active from 1974 - 1990 <ref name="auto4"/><ref>{{Cite journal |first=E.N. |last=Rammohan |title=The Naxalite Maoist Insurgency |journal=Studies in International Strategic Issues |year=2012–2013 |volume=XIV|issue=III & Vol. XV No. I |url=https://www.academia.edu/4734687 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512122535/http://www.academia.edu/4734687/The_Naxalite_Maoist_Insurgency_THE_NAXALITE_MAOIST_INSURGENCY |archivedate=2018-05-12 }}</ref>

== Background ==
In 1960s, when the [[Naxalite]] movement<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ukessays.com/essays/history/naxalite-maoist-insurgency-in-india-history-essay.php|title=Naxalite Maoist Insurgency In India History Essay|newspaper=UKEssays|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-12-12|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220235348/https://www.ukessays.com/essays/history/naxalite-maoist-insurgency-in-india-history-essay.php|archivedate=2016-12-20}}</ref> started under the leadership of [[Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist)]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/naxalbari-the-beginning/482324/3|title=Naxalbari: The Beginning – Indian Express|website=archive.indianexpress.com|access-date=2016-12-12|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430015829/http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/naxalbari-the-beginning/482324/3|archivedate=2017-04-30}}</ref> the poor peasantry and agricultural labourers who belonged mainly to the lower castes started taking side with the communists in central Bihar across the districts of [[Bhojpur district, India|Bhojpur]], [[Gaya district|Gaya]], [[Nalanda district|Nalanda]], [[Patna district|Patna]] and [[Aurangabad district, Bihar|Aurangabad]]. Several violent armed clashes occurred between the landlords and poor/landless peasantry. During the 1970s, CPI (ML) faced hard offence from central and state governments throughout India and splintered into several ML factions. In 1974, one of the ML factions was able to hold on to the grounds and reorganised itself into the [[CPI(ML) Liberation]] political party.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/history-of-naxalism/story-4f1rZukARGYn3qHOqDMEbM.html|title=History of Naxalism|date=2003-05-09|newspaper=Hindustan Times|access-date=2016-12-12|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229010504/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/history-of-naxalism/story-4f1rZukARGYn3qHOqDMEbM.html|archivedate=2016-12-29}}</ref>

Meanwhile, the landlords/landowners most of whom economically were from upper class peasantry (mainly upper caste ) organised themselves based on caste lines into several landlord gentries. In retaliation '''Lal Sena''' guerrilla armed squads, were organised by then underground CPI (ML) Liberation.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/terroristoutfits/Private_armies.htm|title=Private caste armies in Bihar, South Asia Terrorism Portal|website=www.satp.org|access-date=2016-12-10|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313145712/http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/terroristoutfits/Private_armies.htm|archivedate=2017-03-13}}</ref><ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/terroristoutfits/massacres.htm|title=Chronology of Massacres in Central Bihar (1977–2001), South Asia Terrorism Portal|website=www.satp.org|access-date=2016-12-10|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409002114/http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/terroristoutfits/massacres.htm|archivedate=2017-04-09}}</ref><ref name="auto6">{{Cite web|url=http://cpiml.org/report-from-the-flaming-fields-of-bihar/part-iii/major-achievements?id=7366|title=Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation Major AchievementsCommunist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation|website=cpiml.org|access-date=2016-12-15|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220201620/http://cpiml.org/report-from-the-flaming-fields-of-bihar/part-iii/major-achievements?id=7366|archivedate=2016-12-20}}</ref>

== After 2005 ==
Since the late 2000s, Lal Sena's squad activity has been curtailed. The CPI (ML) Liberation party's movements took a militant but democratic approach through legalised workers, peasants, students, youth and women organisations, as noted by Dr. Sanjay K. Jha:<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|url=http://asthabharati.org/Dia_Apr05/Sanj.htm|title=Naxalite Movement in Bihar and Jharkhandtc|website=asthabharati.org|access-date=2016-12-13|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161211052723/http://www.asthabharati.org/Dia_Apr05/Sanj.htm|archivedate=2016-12-11}}</ref>

{{blockquote|"The CPI-ML (Liberation), which had a formidable presence in the central parts of undivided Bihar, decided to function as an over ground political party in 1992. It was stated that "the party does not rule out the possibility under a set of exceptional national and international circumstances, the balance of social and economic forces may even permit peaceful transfer of central power to revolutionary forces". It was, however, added that the party must prepare itself for winning the ultimate decisive victory through an armed struggle", though it admitted that the situation was not ripe for such a movement. Reports suggest that it still maintains underground squad in some regions. The party also has a string of organizations to mobilize students, women and workers. They are: All India Students Association, Bihar Pradesh Kisan Sabha, All India Coordination Committee of Trade Unions, All India Progressive Women's Association and Jan Sanskritik Manch."}}

== See also ==
* [[Ranvir Sena]]
* [[Kuer Sena]]
* [[List of communist parties in India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}


[[Category:Communist organisations in India]]
[[Category:Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation]]
[[Category:Defunct communist militant groups]]
[[Category:Land rights movements]]
[[Category:Left-wing militant groups in India]]
[[Category:Naxalite groups]]
[[Category:Politics of Bihar]]

Lal Sena - Revision history

Evan692365 at 04:23, 16 March 2026