JDU candidate Anant Singh, two others arrested in Jan Suraaj supporters murder case
Yadav, who was campaigning for Jan Suraaj Party candidate Piyush Priyadarshi, died from a ruptured lung and multiple rib fractures during the election campaign in Mokama.
PTC News Desk: The Patna Police on Sunday morning arrested controversial former MLA and JD(U) candidate from Mokama, Anant Singh, in connection with the murder of Jan Suraaj worker Dularchand Yadav that took place on Thursday.
A police team led by Patna SSP Kartikeya Sharma reached Singh’s residence in Barh and later took him into custody. Singh had been under surveillance since Yadav’s death, which followed a confrontation between Yadav and Singh’s supporters in Mokama. He was brought to Patna for interrogation. Along with Singh, two others — Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram — who were present at the scene of the incident, were also arrested. All three are to be produced before a magistrate soon.
Yadav, who was campaigning for Jan Suraaj Party candidate Piyush Priyadarshi, died from a ruptured lung and multiple rib fractures during the election campaign in Mokama. The post-mortem ruled out gunshot injuries, confirming death due to physical assault — a development that has intensified political tensions ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections.
At a late-night joint press conference with Patna District Magistrate Thyagarajan S.M., SSP Sharma said, “Police have arrested three persons — Anant Singh, Manikant Thakur, and Ranjeet Ram — in connection with the murder of Dularchand Yadav. The post-mortem findings and preliminary investigation indicate it is a case of murder.”
He added that the initial probe revealed a clash between the supporters of two rival candidates, after which Yadav’s body was discovered. FIRs were filed from both sides, and investigators later confirmed that Singh and his associates were present at the scene when the incident occurred.
Reacting to Singh’s arrest, Jan Suraaj candidate Piyush Priyadarshi told ANI, “It’s a welcome step, though delayed. He was openly campaigning in a convoy of 50 vehicles even after the FIR was filed against him. The arrest should have happened earlier, but it’s good that it has finally been done. What matters now is the fairness of the investigation. This brings some relief to his family.”
Singh, a multiple-term legislator whose wife Neelam Devi currently represents Mokama, has also been charged with violating the Model Code of Conduct after reports emerged of him traveling with large convoys.
Anant Singh named in FIR
Police had earlier registered three FIRs related to the incident and made two arrests. One FIR, filed by Yadav’s grandson, names Anant Singh and four others as accused. The second was filed by the rival group, while the third was registered by the police based on their independent findings.