Patna, November 2 — Former Bihar MLA and Janata Dal (United) candidate Anant Singh was arrested late on Saturday, two days after the murder of Dularchand Yadav, a 75-year-old supporter of the Jan Suraaj Party, in the volatile Mokama constituency.
The arrest, confirmed by Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya Sharma, has sent shockwaves through Bihar’s political circles ahead of the November 6 elections. According to Sharma, Singh was present at the scene of the crime along with two associates — Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram — during the violent confrontation.
“All acts of stone-pelting, arson, and firing occurred in the presence of candidate Anant Singh, who is the main accused in the case. He has been arrested,” Sharma told reporters during a late-night press briefing.
Anant Singh, popularly known as “Chhote Sarkar”, was taken into custody from his Kargil Bazar residence in Barh, just hours before Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav’s scheduled rally in Mokama. Reports suggested Singh had been planning to surrender voluntarily.
The Incident
The victim, Dularchand Yadav, a local strongman and former RJD leader, was attacked on October 30 while campaigning for Jan Suraaj Party candidate Piyush Priyadarshi in the Mokama Tal area. The attack followed a violent clash between rival political groups.
An FIR filed by Yadav’s grandson directly named Anant Singh, several of his nephews, and other associates. Although initial reports claimed Yadav had been shot dead, the post-mortem report later revealed that he died of cardiorespiratory failure due to a ruptured lung and multiple rib fractures, indicating he was crushed or run over by a vehicle after sustaining a non-fatal gunshot wound to the ankle.
Police Findings
Bihar DGP Vinay Kumar stated that Singh’s arrest followed an assessment of forensic evidence, eyewitness testimonies, and video footage from the scene. He noted that the investigation had confirmed, through multiple videos, eyewitness accounts, and post-mortem findings, that the victim had been run over by a heavy vehicle, and that Anant Singh’s presence at the location was conclusively established. Kumar added that eighty others had also been taken into custody for their alleged involvement in stone-pelting.
Security Tightened in Mokama
Security was beefed up across the Mokama–Barh highway on Saturday, with paramilitary forces deployed in sensitive zones. In Tartar village, Dularchand’s native place, a paramilitary company and local police were placed on 24-hour rotation duty amid reports that eyewitnesses were being intimidated by Singh’s supporters.
“Those speaking out on video or to the media are being threatened and taken away from their homes,” alleged Sanjay Yadav, a local resident.
Political and Caste Underpinnings
The arrest has further inflamed tensions in Mokama — a constituency long dominated by bahubalis (strongmen) and marked by caste-driven politics. Anant Singh, a Bhumihar leader and multiple-term former MLA, faces Veena Devi, wife of rival strongman Surajbhan Singh, who is contesting on an RJD ticket.
Dularchand Yadav’s murder has deepened existing Yadav–Bhumihar rivalries, with local communities sharply polarised. While Yadav supporters hailed the arrest as a step toward justice, Singh’s followers termed it a politically motivated conspiracy.
“Vidhayak ji wasn’t even campaigning during previous elections, yet the people of Mokama stood by him. This time too, voters will ensure justice,” said Ravi Bidhyarthi, a close associate of Singh.
Election Commission’s Response
With the murder marking Bihar’s first poll-related killing of the season, the incident has placed the JD(U) and the ruling NDA alliance under intense scrutiny. The Election Commission of India (ECI) took swift action, suspending and transferring multiple local officials, including the Patna Rural SP and the Mokama Returning Officer, citing “serious lapses” in maintaining the Model Code of Conduct.
The situation remains tense as security agencies brace for possible unrest ahead of polling in Mokama, where violence and political vendetta have long been part of its electoral legacy.
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