Hundreds of CPI(M) Leaders, Supporters Hold Protests across Bihar against Attack on Party MLA

Patna: Hundreds of the leaders, workers and supporters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) protested in Bihar on Monday against the murderous attack on party MLA Ajay Kumar and burnt effigy of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. They also demanded a high-level probe into the attack and arrest of those involved in the incident.

Ajay Kumar a is leader of the CPI(M) legislature party in the state Assembly and a popular face of the party in Samastipur, which considered a stronghold of the Left. According to police in Samastipur, a group of motorcycle borne assailants attacked Kumar late at night on May 29 at the party office and his security guard was injured in the incident. An FIR was lodged against three named accused.

Kumar was attacked in Samastipur by some culprits last month as well.

Wearing masks and maintaining social distancing, protesting CPI(M) leaders, workers and supporters with hand written placards, red party flags and banners, stood in long queues on the roadsides in different places across the state. They shouted slogans against the government’s failure to arrest attackers and launch a high-level investigation.

CPI(M) state secretary Awadesh Kumar said a state-wide protest was staged by the party against the attack on the party leader. According to him, it was an attack to kill Ajay Kumar. “We have protested to warn the government to arrest the attackers,” he said.

Another senior CPI (M) leader, Arun Kumar Mishra said the attack on Ajay Kumar has exposed the real rule of law in the state. “We have demanded immediate arrest of the culprits and a high-level probe. If a party MLA is not safe in his party office, one can imagine the safety and security of the common people. The double-engine NDA government led by Nitish Kumar has totally failed to maintain law and order in the state.”

He said that the government failed to check and control crimes during the ongoing lockdown during the second wave of the COVID pandemic as reports of murder, rape, kidnapping, extortion, loot, and bank robbery and theft poured in.

The Left party’s press release said the party has successfully organised a protest in all 38 districts of the state demanding arrest of attackers and a high level probe. In Patna, party leaders and workers staged protest in the heart of the town. Similar protests were reported from other district headquarters and block levels as well.

In Samastipur, the party's leaders and cadres took to the streets in large numbers, staged a protest march and later, ended with a warning to intensify protests if attackers were not arrested.

A day after Ajay Kumar was attacked, a large number of party workers had also taken to the streets on Sunday, blocked roads to protest and express their anger.

The CPI(M) has two MLAs in the state Assembly and the party is a part of the opposition Mahagathbandhan.