The latest wave of terror killings at Senari village by the Naxalite MCC group is not only sad but speaks of a mindset that has gripped Bihar. Ranged on either side is the Ranvir Sena, which speaks the language of blood on behalf of the upper class, and the MCC which butchers upper caste innocents in the name of protecting the underprivileged, the Dalits. In either case, whoever is the winner, blood is shed and sadly, there are no doctors to be found. The butchers are active and the entire district has been reduced to a huge operation theatre.The surge of blood is uncontrollable.

Yet again, unfortunately, politics is coming into play. The Congress is bent on Rabri Devi’s dismissal while the BJP is harping on the greatness of Article 356. The Left, quite rightly, has asked for a sealing of the district and more paramilitary forces for the area. The Ranvir Sena has made matters worse by going public with a statement saying that it will avenge this latest round of killing by the MCC in Senari and that the death toll would not be in ``double-digits this time.’’ Spine-chilling thoughts and threats as they are but the fact is that Jehanabad is a case example of how wrong policies on land reforms can lead to unhappiness and end in such gory and macabre revenge killings.

A CPI(M) fact-finding team has said that all the 34 who were butchered in Senari were Bhumihars and included children. The report also said that in some cases, no links of the victims with the Ranvir Sena could be established.

In a joint statement, the CPI(M) and the CPI said in Delhi that for a ``permanent solution, surplus and government land had to be distributed to the landless and parchas for possession of such land for cultivation and house sites must be carried out with the cooperation of the all the parties and people’s representatives.’’