Bihar’s high-profile JD(U) candidate from Mokama, Anant Singh, was arrested early Sunday in connection with the murder of Jan Suraaj supporter Dular Chand Yadav, police confirmed. The arrest comes three days after the incident that took place during an election campaign in Mokama, near Patna.
Clash during campaign turns fatal
According to Bihar DGP Vinay Kumar, the killing occurred on Thursday when supporters of Anant Singh and Jan Suraaj candidate Piyush Priyadarshi allegedly clashed while their convoys crossed paths. “The supporters of both the candidates were crossing each other in the convoy, and there was a dispute over whether to move the vehicle forward or backward. After that, the two groups clashed. Hundreds of people were seen throwing stones,” the DGP told NDTV.
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He added that Yadav, who was initially believed to have suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, died due to cardiorespiratory failure caused by shock following injuries to the heart and lungs inflicted by a hard, blunt object. The post-mortem, conducted a day after the incident, confirmed the cause of death.
Viral video under review
A video circulating online purportedly shows Yadav throwing stones during the confrontation. The DGP stated that the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) will verify the authenticity of the footage. “It is possible that he (Yadav) was present during the clashes,” Kumar said.
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Responding to questions on whether Anant Singh could continue campaigning after his arrest, Kumar clarified that Singh would be sent to judicial custody, emphasising that the law applies equally to all candidates. “We act on the basis of evidence. It doesn’t matter who is fighting from which party,” he said.
Anant Singh took to Facebook to share a video that showed him being escorted by police personnel. He captioned the post stating, "Satyamev Jayate! I have complete faith in the people of Mokama!! That's why now the people of Mokama will fight this election!"
Elections in Bihar will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, with results to be announced on November 14.
