Former JDU MLA Anant Singh Arrested in Mokama Murder Case

Patna: Anant Singh, former Bihar MLA and JDU candidate for the upcoming assembly elections, was arrested early Sunday in connection with the murder of Jan Suraaj supporter Dular Chand Yadav. Yadav, a former gangster turned politician and ex-RJD member, was killed while campaigning in Mokama for his nephew Priyadarshi Piyush, who is contesting on a Jan Suraaj Party ticket.

Singh, who is also the husband of sitting MLA Neelam Devi, was taken into custody from his Barh residence along with two associates, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram, who were present during the incident.

Official Statements and Investigation Details

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Patna, Kartikeya Sharma, confirmed the arrests during a late-night press briefing alongside Patna District Magistrate Thyagarajan SM. “Police have arrested three persons — Anant Singh, Manikant Thakur, and Ranjeet Ram — in connection with Dular Chand Yadav’s murder,” Sharma stated.

The post-mortem report revealed that Yadav died from cardiorespiratory failure caused by injuries to the heart and lungs inflicted by a hard, blunt object. “The report and preliminary investigations indicate that this is a case of murder,” SSP Sharma added.

Anant Singh Denies Direct Involvement

Addressing the media prior to his arrest, Singh claimed he was “far away” when Yadav clashed with his supporters. He suggested that Yadav’s associates vandalized vehicles belonging to his supporters and hinted at political rivalry as a motive. Singh also implicated the husband of his RJD opponent, Veena Devi, stating, “It must be the handiwork of Suraj Bhan. He orchestrated the killing to tarnish my reputation.”

Political Background of Anant Singh

Anant Singh secured the Mokama seat as an RJD candidate in the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections but was later disqualified in 2022 following his conviction under the Arms Act. His wife, Neelam Devi, subsequently won the bypoll for the constituency.

Administrative Changes Following the Murder

In response to Yadav’s killing, the Election Commission transferred Patna SP (Rural) Vikram Sihag and appointed new officials to replace the sub-divisional officer of Barh, the returning officer of the Mokama assembly seat, and two sub-divisional police officers. Disciplinary action was initiated against three officials, and Abhishek Singh, Barh-2 sub-divisional police officer, was suspended.

Upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections

Bihar will hold assembly elections in two phases on November 6 and 11, with vote counting scheduled for November 14.

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Sorit Chaudhary

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