Brahmeshwar Singh


Brahmeshwar Singh also known as Mukhiyaji or Brahmeshwar Singh, was head of the upper-caste Ranvir Sena farmers group in Bihar, India. On 1 June 2012, he was killed by unidentified gunmen.

Ranvir Sena, arrest, and acquittal

Brahmeshwar Singh Mukhiya hails from Bhumihar Brahmin family and became the leader of the Ranvir Sena soon after it was formed in 1994. Singh was suspected of being involved in the killings of hundreds of naxalites who recruited people from poor and dalit background. In 2002, Singh was arrested on "carnage" charges, for which he faced the possibility of life imprisonment. He spent nine years in jail awaiting trial and was released on bail and then later acquitted for insufficient evidence.

Politics

On 5 May 2012, Singh founded the Akhil Bharatiya Rashtravadi Kisan Sangathan, an organization that Singh said would assist farmers and other manual labourers.

Death

On 1 June 2012, Singh was on a morning walk near his home in Arrah, Bihar. Reportedly, around six armed men shot Singh several times. The killing resulted in public unrest and severe rioting. Several thousand people burnt the circuit house, Block Development Officer's office, and several government vehicles; damaged railway offices; and stopped the trains on the Howrah-Delhi route.