Ranveer Sena had political patronage from BJP: Cobrapost

NEW DELHI: Newsportal Cobrapost has alleged that the Ranveer Sena — a private militia funded by landowners in Bihar linked to murders of several Dalits since 1997 — operated with patronage of several political leaders. In a film titled ‘Black Rain,’ the portal alleged that the Ranveer Sena had the tacit support of many top BJP politicians even at the central level.

The Ranveer Sena, formed in the 1990s in ‘response’ to emergence of Maoists in Bihar, were involved in violent clashes and is classified as a terrorist group by the state government and proscribed by the Centre as well. The film recorded six alleged commanders of the Ranveer Sena admitting their complicity in the murder of 144 Dalits between 1995 and 1997.

According to the film, those reportedly involved in the massacres claimed that the Sena cadre received training from Army jawans — on leave or retired — and private donations also helped them buy weapons. According to the film, politicians helped the killers get modern lethal weapons and semi-automatic rifles and also finances. Most of the alleged killers interviewed stealthily in the film talk openly about planning massacres and executing them.

Two of the six accused were declared innocent and set free by the Patna high court for lack of evidence in cases involving them.