PATNA, DEC 7: Opposition parties in Bihar have called on Governor A R Kidwai and submitted a memorandum asking him to recommend dismissal of Rabri Devi Government in the wake of Monday's Jehanabad massacre.

``The Rabri Devi ministry has totally failed to protect the life and property of common people in the State and therefore it should not be allowed to continue,'' the memorandum submitted by 17 opposition parties said.

The memorandum also charged ruling RJD and BJP with ``patronising'' outlawed Ranvir Sena, a private army of landowners, in the State. Sena marauders had massacred 61 Dalits and backwards in Lakshmanpur Bathe in Jehanabad on Monday in the worst-ever violence in the State.

Opposition delegation comprising Left and democratic parties, including the CPI, CPM, CPI-ML (Liberation), Janata Dal and Samajwadi Party called on the Governor at Rajbhavan last evening and submitted the memorandum. Among the delegates were Khagenbdra Thakur (CPI), Krishnakant Singh (CPM), Krishnadeo Yadav (CPI-ML), Nripen Krishna Mahato (Forward Bloc) and T K Prakash (RSP).Meanwhile, Rabri Devi today left for New Delhi following summons from the Centre to discuss the State's law and order situation in view of the Jehanabad carnage, official sources said.

The Union Home Ministry had yesterday summoned Rabri Devi and other top functionaries of the State for the discussions on the worst-ever carnage.The Chief Minister would discuss the law and order situation in Bihar with Prime Minister I K Gujral and Union Home Minister Indrajit Gupta during her stay in the national capital. An official spokesman said yesterday the Centre is working on an action plan to ``finetune'' the law and order machinery in the State and wants to consult the CM and other senior officials of the state.

State chief secretary B P Verma and Home commissioner R K Singh are accompanying Rabri Devi to Delhi.Official sources said the Bihar Government has constituted a special investigating team (SIT) led by SP (Crime-CID) R D Subarno to go into the massacre.

The SIT would camp at the spot for a week and submit a detailed report on the facts and circumstances leading to the tragedy. The Government, has also formed a task force of four DSP-ranking officers and other policemen to intensify the ongoing combing operation to track down Ranvir Sena.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.