Mokama death case: JD(U) candidate Anant Singh and 2 others arrested

JD(U) candidate from Mokama Anant Kumar Singh. | Photo Credit: ANI

Controversial former Bihar MLA Anant Singh , who seeks to reclaim Mokama seat on a ticket of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), was arrested in a late-night operation on Saturday in connection with the murder of Jan Suraaj supporter Dular Chand Yadav. The Police also arrested two other persons, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram, who were also present when the incident took place.

The arrest, confirmed by Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya Sharma, sends shockwaves through the political landscape of poll-bound Bihar, particularly in the notoriously volatile Mokama constituency. He said that Yadav's post-mortem report shows that he died of cardiorespiratory failure due to shock caused by injury to the heart and lungs by a hard and blunt substance.

Yadav died while campaigning for Jan Suraaj Party’s candidate Piyush Priyadarshi in Patna’s Mokama area on Thursday. The incident had taken place in the Mokama Taal area, which is close to Bhadaur and Ghoswari police stations. The incident had taken place close to the Bhadaur and Ghoswari police stations in the Mokama area.

Anant Kumar Singh, also known as Chhote Sarkar is a former MLA from the Bihar’s Mokama assembly constituency. Affiliated with the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) at different times, Anant is a five-time MLA from Mokama seat. Born in Nadwan village under Barh region in Patna district (Bihar), he first won the Mokama assembly seat in 2005 on a JD(U) ticket. Often described as that of a strongman / “muscle-politician” in the Bihar, Anant is very popular on social media.

Reacting to the arrest, Jan Suraaj Party’s Mokama candidate Piyush Priyadarshi told ANI, "This is a good gesture, but it would have been good had they taken action sooner. Today, he was moving around in a convoy of 50 vehicles and even participated in election campaigning. When an FIR was registered against him, he should have been arrested sooner. But better late than never. What is important now is how the police investigate the whole case. It is a relief for his family."

The Election Commission has sought a detailed report from the District Election Officer over the incident, which occurred amid the ongoing Bihar Assembly election campaign.

The poll body also ordered the transfer of Patna Superintendent of Police (Rural) and action against three other officials, taking a stern view of violence in Mokama, involving the killing of Yadav.

"The commission directed that Vikram Sihag, Superintendent of Police (Rural), Patna, may also be transferred. Hence, a panel of officers for posting a substitute in his place may be sent urgently," the poll authority told the state Chief Electoral Officer on Saturday.