Former MLA and JD(U) candidate Anant Kumar Singh, widely known as Chhote Sarkar, was arrested by Patna Police late Saturday night in connection with the killing of Dular Chand Yadav, a worker for the Jan Suraaj campaign in Bihar’s Mokama constituency. Hours later, Singh released a video on social media declaring his faith in his supporters and alleging political foul play.

In a Facebook post showing him being taken away by officers, Singh wrote: “Satyamev Jayate!! I have complete faith in the people of Mokama!! Therefore, the people of Mokama will now contest the elections.” The post appeared online in the early hours of Sunday, shortly after his detention from his residence in Barh.

The Arrest and Police Operation

Police officials said Singh was taken into custody after a late-night operation involving around 150 personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). His associates Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram were also arrested. The three were brought to Patna for questioning before being produced in court.

Senior Superintendent of Police Kartikeya K. Sharma said investigators relied on CCTV footage, witness accounts, and the post-mortem report to identify Singh as the main accused. “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,” Sharma said.

Details of the Violent Clash

The killing of 75-year-old Dular Chand Yadav occurred on October 30 in Tartar village under Mokama Assembly seat. Police said the clash began when the convoys of Singh and Jan Suraaj candidate Priyadarshi Piyush crossed paths, leading to stone-pelting and gunfire. According to the FIR filed by Yadav’s grandson Neeraj Kumar, the JD(U) candidate allegedly drew a pistol and fired at Yadav.

The complaint also claims that Singh’s aides beat Yadav with iron rods before running him over multiple times with an SUV. The case has been registered under sections 103 (murder) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with the Arms Act.

Political Reaction and Legal Defence

Singh’s lawyer Naveen Kumar alleged that his client was being targeted to influence the election. “Their only motive is to influence the vote, and there’s no other intention. Dularchand’s death was very tragic, we express our condolences, but he (Singh) was unnecessarily targeted. The issue is related to the election, and the opposition is behind this,” he said.

The arrest, which comes days before the November 6 polling, has jolted the political landscape in Mokama, where Singh has wielded influence for decades. The former MLA, known for his strongman image, is a dominant figure among the Bhumihar community and has often been referred to locally as “Chhote Sarkar.”

Singh’s Background and Criminal Record

Anant Singh’s political career spans two decades, with stints in both the JD(U) and RJD. He first entered the Bihar Assembly in 2005 and won successive elections from Mokama. After his 2022 conviction under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act when an AK-47 rifle and grenades were found at his home his wife Neelam Devi retained the seat for the RJD in a by-election. Singh was later acquitted by the Patna High Court in 2024.

According to his election affidavit, Singh faces 28 ongoing criminal cases, including charges of murder, conspiracy, kidnapping, and possession of illegal arms. He has declared assets worth Rs 37.88 crore, while his wife’s assets stand at Rs 62.72 crore.

Administrative Shake-up and Election Commission Action

Following the incident, the Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered major administrative changes in Barh subdivision, replacing senior officers accused of failing to maintain law and order. The Barh SDO and both SDPOs were transferred, and disciplinary proceedings initiated against them.

SSP Sharma assured voters that the situation in Patna district was under control. “I want to assure the voters of Patna that elections will be held peacefully, and that they can fearlessly come out and vote,” he said.

The Rivalry and Ongoing Probe

Police said Yadav’s death stemmed from a long-standing rivalry in Mokama, where both men commanded local influence. Yadav, who had a history of criminal cases, had recently aligned himself with Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj movement, though Kishor later denied formal association.

Singh, however, blamed rival strongman Suraj Bhan, whose wife is contesting from Mokama on an RJD ticket. “It must be the handiwork of Suraj Bhan. He orchestrated the killing so that I would get a bad name,” he claimed.

With six FIRs now registered and a CID team assisting the investigation, police are still verifying who fired the fatal shot and who drove the vehicle that ran over Yadav. Forensic teams have collected blood samples and vehicle fragments from the site. The case continues to unfold as Bihar’s political battleground heats up ahead of polls.