Violent Attack on Labourer Families in Bathinda, CPI(ML) Leads Struggle for Justice

On the night of January 9-10, approximately 100 goons launched a vicious attack on the homes of seven labourer families in Dan Singh Wala village, Bathinda district. The attackers brutally injured several labourers, setting their homes on fire and pouring petrol on their belongings, including beds, mattresses, and trunks. Women and children managed to escape with their lives, but the devastation left the families with nothing.

Despite being informed immediately, the local police failed to intervene and protect the vulnerable families. It was only when the police arrived later that they discovered the homes had been destroyed. However, rather than arresting the culprits, the police chose to demolish the house of the main accused in front of the villagers, attempting to portray the incident as a clash between two groups, a narrative which misrepresented the deliberate nature of the attack.

Upon learning of the incident, Comrade Rajinder Singh Sivian, district in-charge of CPI(ML) Liberation, and Comrade Ami Lal, state leader of Mazdoor Mukti Morcha Liberation, rushed to the village. On January 11, they formed a Jabar Virodhi Sangharsh Morcha (Struggle Committee Against Oppression or JVSM), bringing together labourer and farmer organisations in solidarity. The next day, they submitted a memorandum to the Bathinda District Commissioner and the SSP, demanding the immediate arrest of the culprits and compensation for the economic losses suffered by the affected families.

Under pressure from the CPI(ML)'s organised efforts, the police arrested four individuals, but the main accused and many other goons remained at large. In response, on January 12, JVSM and CPI(ML) led a large protest rally, demanding the arrest of all perpetrators, Rs. 10 lakhs compensation for each affected family, and a high-level inquiry into the attack.

On January 13, a fact-finding committee from CPI(ML), consisting of Comrade Jasbir Kaur Nat (state committee member), Comrade Gurpreet Singh Rureke (state secretary of Mazdoor Mukti Morcha), Comrade Rajinder Singh Sivian (district in-charge of Bathinda), and Comrade Ami Lal (state leader of Mazdoor Mukti Morcha), visited the village to assess the damage and investigate the incident.

After thorough inquiry, it became clear that the attack was not a random clash between groups, but a premeditated assault orchestrated by drug smugglers. The affected families had previously confronted the smugglers about their illicit activities in the village, leading to threats of violence and arson. The main accused even threatened to burn down the labourers' homes in front of the village sarpanch, a figure closely tied to the local police administration and MLA. This prompted the brutal attack that night.

On January 17, a large gathering took place in Dan Singh Wala village, where leaders from CPI(ML) and the JVSM addressed a demonstration of around 500 people. The event put additional pressure on the administration, which resulted in the SDM of Bathinda offering Rs. 50,000 in immediate aid to the affected families.

The CPI(ML) and JVSM have vowed to continue pushing for the fulfilment of their remaining demands, including comprehensive compensation and a full public inquiry. A massive gathering has been planned for January 28 in Bathinda district to intensify the struggle for justice.