Gunmen Slaughter 34 In Caste Violence

Black-garbed gunmen stormed a village while its residents slept early Saturday, executing 34 women, children and old men after the latest caste-related battle in India’s poorest and most lawless province.

The attackers, identified as members of an upper-caste militia backed by rich landlords, fought a gunbattle with several armed villagers for 2-1/2 hours until the residents ran out of ammunition, said M.V. Rao, police superintendent of the Aurangabad area in Bihar state, where the massacre took place.

Then the attackers stormed several homes and ordered the women, children and elders to stand in a line. They were shot and killed.

Caste-related violence often flares in Bihar state between the Ranvir Sena and Maoist guerrillas belonging to the People’s War Group and the Maoist Communist Center, who say they represent the underclass. Revenge attacks are often carried out against villagers and scores die each year.