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New Delhi, Nov 1 (IANS) The death of a worker following a clash between supporters of two political rivals in Mokama, just days before Bihar Assembly elections, has brought back memories of the state’s troubled past.
The incident marks a return to violence in a region that had recently seen progress in governance and development. The victim, Dularchand Yadav, was a well-known local political figure who at times had links with leaders like former chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and current chief minister Nitish Kumar.
In 1991, his name came up in the case of murder of a Congress worker along with Anant Singh’s brother Dilip Singh. Dularchand and others were later acquitted.
In all, the deceased faced 11 criminal cases, including charges of murder, kidnapping, extortion, forgery and firearms violations.
In the current elections, he was campaigning for Jan Suraj candidate Priyadarshi Piyush. Some of his family members have accused Anant Singh, the Janata Dal (United) candidate in Mokama, of murdering him.
According to an analysis of self-affidavits of election candidates by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Bihar Election Watch, Anant Singh is facing at least 28 cases, including murder, attempt to murder, criminal intimidation, rioting, among others.
He has declared total assets of over Rs 100 crore – the third highest among candidates in the first phase of Bihar elections – and liabilities of over Rs 25 crore.
Known as “Chhote Sarkar”, he recaptured Mokama in 2005 after his brother Dilip lost the seat to Surajbhan Singh in 2000. He regained the seat for RJD in 2020 while in jail. However, he was disqualified after being convicted under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in 2022, when his wife Neelam Devi contested and won the by-election on an RJD ticket.
This time he is contesting elections again after being acquitted by Patna High Court. Also contesting is RJD’s Veena Devi, wife of 2000 winner Surajbhan Singh. He previously represented Munger in the Lok Sabha between 2014-2019 for the Lok Janshakti Party.
Incidentally, Surajbhan Singh was disqualified from contesting the elections after he was convicted in a murder case.
Earlier, Bihar had received the nickname of “Jungle Raj” in the early 1990s, reflecting public perceptions of largesse, caste violence and criminalized politics associated with perceived administrative blessings.
Lalu Prasad’s tenure emerged from a political agenda of social justice for lower castes, and it expanded political representation and voice for historically marginalized groups.
At the same time, academic and journalistic articles characterize this period as a period marked by a rise in organized criminality, political patronage networks, and instances where the state’s monopoly on coercion was ended or selectively enforced.
By the turn of the century, available records from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) show that 71,000 murder cases were registered in Bihar between 2001 and 2022.
Incidentally, the data shows the highest number of cases for 2004, when 3,948 murders were recorded during the rule led by Rabri Devi as chief minister in the RJD-led alliance comprising Congress and Left parties, during her previous tenure (2000-2005).
Earlier this year, several incidents of violence were reported across Bihar, including the murder of a patient inside a hospital in Patna and the death of a local businessman.
Similar cases were also reported in Sitamarhi, where a businessman was attacked and Chapra, where a teacher lost his life.
–IANS
JB/BRT/DAN