Comrade Arun Pandey, member of Sariya Block Committee of CPI(ML) and a local leader of long standing, was brutally murdered by BJP-backed criminals in early morning on July 2 when he was on his way to adivasi villages in his local panchayat Koeridih. The news of his murder spread like wildfire in the district and people came out on the streets in large numbers. Thousands joined his funeral the next day and on 13 July, life came to a standstill in the district in response to the CPI(ML)s call for a shutdown to demand immediate arrest of his killers. Only one person has been arrested till date and the local BJP MLA is trying his best to protect the rest, claiming they are all BJP activists. The battle for justice continues.

Comrade Arun is fondly remembered by Giridih comrades as a Party organiser with close ties with the masses, as an ever reliable and hardworking comrade, as a resolute and tireless campaigner who always stood by the people against all odds. He was in his late 40s and is survived by his parents, three brothers and wife Asha and two sons and a daughter. CPI(ML) Central Committee condemns his assassination in the strongest possible terms, pays homage to his inspiring memory and calls upon the entire Party to carry forward his mission and fulfil his dreams.

Protests Against Comrade Aruns Assassination

Thousands of people came out on the streets in Giridih district on 13 July 2015 against the killing of Com. Arun Pandey. Earlier, on 7 July too, a protest march had been held in Ranchi against the murder of Com. Arun.
The 13 July protest brought rail and road traffic to a standstill across the district. Local criminals protected by BJP MLA Nagendra Mahto murdered Arun Pandey. Jharkhand State BJP President and Kodarma MP Ravindra Rai is openly supporting the killers.

Protest marches were also held and effigies of the Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das burnt in Ramgarh Patratu and Gulmi of Ramgarh district, Dhanbad town, and Jhumri Talaiyya of Kodarma district.