Chhauradano

THE murder of Comrade Gambhira Sah, Party leader in this area, in police lock-up on 3 July, 1977, gave rise to a widespread protest movement. His funeral procession was attended by 7,000 people of 25 villages, all armed with traditional weapons, and they vowed to avenge the murder of their beloved leader by further broadening and intensifying the peasant struggle. Every year the people of this area observe July 3 as martyrs' day and renew their pledge.

In September 1978, the landlord of Tinkoni village, who bad collaborated with the police in murdering Comrade Gambhira was punished by death.

A local mass organisation was formed in 1979 and under the leadership of this organisation 200 acres of land were captured and distributed among sharecroppers. In 1981, a successful wage movement was conducted simultaneously in 4 villages. Some struggles on sharecropping rights also took place in some villages. This organisation later merged with the BPKS. Subsequently, a massive demonstration was staged against police repression in Baithuhia village.

Peasants of all castes have rallied here under the banner of our peasant organisation. A good number of Muslims, too, support our organisation. And from the very beginning, broad sections of middle peasants are also involved in our movement and organisation. With caste-mobilisation thus rendered ineffective, the landlords in this area, find them­selves deprived of one of their traditional safeguards against militant peasant struggle.