KEER is a village of about 360 households in Bhabhua PS of Rohtas. It used to be just like any other village of the district, but today it stands apart as the peasants of Keer have resolved not to allow the Kurmi landlords to turn it into another Samhauta, Bishrampur or Shahar Bakasara (villages of Rohtas where the poor peasants’ attempts to raise their heads were crushed by Kurmi landlords in the past who went on a killing and burning spree).

There are eight kutcheries (rent collectorates, popularly known as chhawanis) of absentee landlords in the village. The chieftain of these landlords is Krishna Singh, one of the biggest landlords of Rohtas. He owns three tractors and about 900 acres of land, 300 acres in Keer itself. In contrast to some other landlords who lease out their land, he resorts to self-cultivation with the help of his managers and even leases in land. His brother Bhanu Singh is the president of the Kurmi caste organisation and he grows cash crops. All the eight absentee landlord families have family ties among themselves.

Our work here began two years ago among peasants of various castes, the Rajputs, Kurmis, Yadavas, Kahars and Chamars being the main caste groups in the village. To start with, a struggle was launched on the question of wages. It assumed the shape of a struggle of primarily harijans against well-to-do peasants and landlords of all castes. Later, agrarian labourers and poor peasants came to an agreement with the middle and rich peasants. But no agreement was possible with the eight landlord families led by Krishna Singh, who arrogantly declared that he would pay his hired labourers one pau (233 grammes) less than the amount paid by all other landlords or peasants of the village. In face of strike by the agrarian labourers, he hired labourers from outside. Thanks to timely intervention by the Party, a clash with these labourers could be averted, but the strike went on.

During this year’s harvesting season of wheat, landlords threatened the agitating labourers with dire consequences. Alongwith a Sub-Inspector (SI) of the police and hired goondas, Krishna Singh encircled the harijan hamlet and opened fire. The labourers were also prepared and replied with counter-attacks. In face of resistance the goondas took to their heels. Soon peasants of almost all castes gathered there and the women encircled the SI. He was then bashed up by the masses and let off without his revolver. After two days, the police and the goondas came back alongwith an Inspector and demanded the revolver. The people refused and asked them to bring the Magistrate. When the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) came, the masses asked him to file a case against the SI and raised the question of wages, too. On getting an assurance from the DSP, they finally returned the revolver. This mass resistance has had a wide­spread impact and our work has expanded in 60 to 70 villages.

Presently a police camp has been set up near the harijan. hamlet. Krishna Singh is resorting to caste-based mobilisa­tion and is threatening the Rajputs, too, for many of them sympathised with the movement. With the help of some 70 armed goondas, he has hired labourers from outside for the purpose of harvesting. The CPI MLA, Ramlal Yadav is actively helping the landlords. The peasant organisation has issued an open letter to Bindeswari Dubey and called upon the peasants to carry on their resistance struggle.