The panel had been set up soon after the Laxmanpur-Bathe massacre in which 62 Dalits owing allegiance to the CPI(M-L) Liberation were killed by suspected Ranbir Sena men. In the uproar that followed, political parties and social organisations had questioned the ``political patronage'' enjoyed by the Ranbir Sena. The Amir Das Commission was then instituted to examine these political links.

However, the state government never fully cooperated with the commission and it was starved of required manpower. It got an office to operate in as late as March this year.

Repeated reminders to the state government to provide necessary support went unheard. Even the four other major massacres that took place during the commission's tenure didnot move the Rabri Devi-Laloo Prasad Yadav regime to revamp its set-up. Not surprisingly, the panel could not come out with even an interim report in its entire one and a half years.

Recently, the commission had written to the state government to arrange for funds and extend its term to June 30, 2000. The latter did not respond. By allowing the commission to lapse, Laloo has exposed the hollowness of his ``commitment'' to the cause of the poor and Dalits.

Interestingly, just after the setting up of the commission, the CPI(M-L) Liberation had alleged the government move was meant to shelter the ruling RJD and its leaders who had connections with the Ranbir Sena. The BJP too has accused Laloo of having relations with Ranbir Sena chief Barmeshwar Singh.