Mokama killing: FIR claims JD(U) candidate Anant Singh ‘shot at’ 75-year-old before others ran him over with Thar

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya K Sharma said the arrests followed the scrutiny of CCTV footage, witness statements, and the post-mortem report. “Based on the evidence collected so far, including video footage and witness accounts, it has been found that Anant Singh was present at the spot when the violence occurred. He has been identified as the prime accused and arrested accordingly,” the SSP said.

The SSP said that two other men present with Singh at the scene — Thakur, a resident of Nadwa village under Barh police station, and Ram, from Ladma village in Patna district — were arrested along with him from Behdna village under Barh police limits around 11.50 pm.

“A team has been constituted for further investigation, and raids are being conducted to trace others involved,” Sharma said.

The three arrested will be produced before a court, and police will be seeking remand for further investigation.

The officer said that so far, six FIRs have been registered in connection with the incident. “The roles of individuals — who did what, who fired the shot, who was driving the vehicle — are still being verified through further analysis and questioning,” the SSP said. He also confirmed that a CID team has been formed to assist the investigation and that no weapon has been seized yet. “The bullet had exited the body,” he said.

The clash

According to police, the incident occurred around 3.30 pm on Thursday, when the convoys of Anant Singh and Jan Suraaj candidate Priyadarshi Piyush came face to face near Tartar village in Mokama constituency. A confrontation broke out between supporters that soon turned violent. Several people were injured, and Dularchand Yadav, reportedly part of the Jan Suraaj convoy, was killed.

Police said officers rushed to the spot after receiving information about the clash, and the deceased was found inside a vehicle with multiple injuries. Preliminary findings suggested he was shot and subsequently run over.

According to the FIR lodged by Neeraj Kumar, grandson of the deceased Dularchand Yadav, at Ghoswari police station on October 30, the incident took place around 3.30 pm when Dularchand and his associates were campaigning for Jan Suraj Party candidate Priyadarshi Piyush near Basawan Chak village in Mokama.

The complaint alleges that Anant Singh, accompanied by several aides, approached their vehicle and began abusing Yadav. When Yadav objected, he was forcibly pulled out of the car by two men identified as Rajveer Singh and Karmveer Singh, both residents of Nadwa village.

The FIR alleges that Anant Singh then drew a pistol from his waist and fired at Dularchand “with intent to kill”, hitting him in the left ankle. As Yadav fell to the ground, two others, identified as Chhotan Singh and Sanjay Singh from the Barh area, allegedly attacked him with iron rods, striking his legs, back, and head. The complaint further accuses the group of running over Yadav with a Thar SUV two to three times before fleeing.

The FIR was registered under sections 103 (murder) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, along with Section 27 of the Arms Act.

Yadav’s post-mortem examination was conducted on October 31. The SSP said the deceased had a prior criminal record, with cases involving charges of murder and under the Arms Act.

The officer said the environment in the village had turned tense following the incident. In overnight raids, around 80 people were detained for questioning, of whom 60 were arrested for violating prohibitory orders and engaging in violence. Forensic Science Laboratory teams collected material evidence from the site, including vehicle fragments and blood samples.

‘Chhote Sarkar’

Anant Singh, 64, has long been a prominent and controversial figure in Mokama politics, often referred to locally as “Chhote Sarkar”. His political career includes stints with the JD(U), RJD, and as an Independent.

Singh has faced over 50 criminal cases since 1979, including allegations of murder, kidnapping, and extortion. In 2015, he was arrested after a large-scale police operation and later booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act following the seizure of an AK-47 rifle and grenades in a 2019 raid on his residence. He was sentenced to 10 years in 2022 but acquitted in 2024 by the Patna High Court due to a lack of evidence, paving the way for his electoral comeback.

His wife, Neelam Devi, currently represents Mokama in the Bihar Assembly, having won the seat in a 2022 by-election.

The killing of Dularchand Yadav, who himself had a chequered criminal background and maintained links with both political camps over the years, has reignited long-standing rivalries in the politically volatile Mokama region. Sources said that tensions between Yadav and Singh had escalated recently after Yadav shifted his allegiance to Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraj Party.

Administrative reshuffle

The Election Commission has sought a report on the October 30 incident from the Bihar Director General of Police.

The police department has suspended an officer posted in the area on the EC’s recommendation for his failure to ensure adherence to the Model Code of Conduct, as the clash occurred during the election campaign period.

The EC on Saturday evening ordered major administrative changes following the Mokama incident. Barh Sub-Divisional Officer-cum-Returning Officer of Mokama constituency, BAS officer Chandan Kumar, has been replaced by Ashish Kumar, currently Additional Municipal Commissioner, Patna Municipal Corporation.

Rakesh Kumar, SDPO Barh-1, has been replaced by Anand Kumar Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police, CID, Patna; while Abhishek Singh, SDPO Barh-2, has been replaced by Ayush Shrivastava, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Anti-Terrorist Squad, Patna.

The Commission has directed the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the three transferred officers and the submission of a report at the earliest. It has also ordered the immediate suspension of Abhishek Singh.

Additionally, the Commission has sought the transfer of Vikram Sihag, Superintendent of Police (Rural), Patna, instructing that a panel of replacements be sent urgently and a compliance report be furnished by 12 noon on November 2.