The murder of Congress strongman Rajo Singh has re-ignited tensions between the upper Bhumihar caste and the backwards, led by the Yadavs, in the run up to the Assembly polls. The killing is being seen a revenge for the massacre of nine backward caste RJD leaders in the area in 2001. The accused Rajo’s murder are local RJD leader Sambhu Yadav, SC Congress leader Ashok Chowdhury and SC leader Ashok Mahto, who has a criminal background. “This is no ordinary murder. It is political conspiracy. It fits into Laloo’s plan to create a forward-backward divide”, said Lallan Singh, a staunch supporter of Rajo Singh. He, however, refused to blame RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav for the killing. Rajo Singh, a symbol of “upper caste hegemony” in Sheikhpura, had not lost an election since 1972. His murder is being seen as a blow to the Bhumihar “hegemony” in the region. During the Congress regime of Jagannath Mishra, there was a saying, “Jagannath ke teen Nath- Rajo, Ragunath, Prabhunath.” After the change in caste dynamics following the ascent of Laloo in the 90s, Rajo Singh switched loyalties and managed to hold on to his fiefdom. His involvement in the fodder scam along with Laloo was a testimony to this. Laloo never interfered in Sheikhpura. Unrest started when the empowered Yadavs and some other castes challenged the might of Rajo Singh. It led to the massacre of nine RJD workers in 2001 in which Singh and his son were arrested. DM shunted out Patna: Sheikhpura DM Safina was on Saturday given marching orders. “Sheikhpura DM Dr Safina has been asked to report to the state HQ,” personnel and administrative reforms secy Ravikant said.
