Patna: Bihar’s political circles were rocked on Thursday after don-turned-politician Dularchand Yadav, once a close aide of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, was shot dead during a violent clash in Mokama Tal, Patna district. The 75-year-old was campaigning for Jan Suraaj candidate Priyadarshi Piyush when the incident occurred. The killing marks the first major political murder of an otherwise peaceful election season.
Clash during campaign turns deadly
According to police reports, violence broke out when Dularchand’s convoy encountered supporters allegedly linked to Anant Singh, a powerful local leader. Eyewitnesses stated that around 20–25 men armed with sticks and rods attacked Dularchand’s team near Basawanchak village under Goswari police station limits. In the chaos, gunfire erupted, and Dularchand was fatally shot. His supporters claimed that he was also run over by a vehicle belonging to Anant Singh’s men. Superintendent of Police Vikram Sihag said that preliminary findings suggested both groups first clashed before firearms were used. “The sequence of events indicates a confrontation that escalated into a shooting. Forensic teams are on-site to collect evidence,” he said.
Political outrage across Bihar
The killing triggered an immediate political storm. Tejashwi Yadav, RJD leader and former deputy CM, squarely blamed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the “breakdown of law and order” in the state. “This incident exposes how criminals are shielded by those in power. Dularchand Yadav’s murder reflects the collapse of governance in Bihar,” Tejashwi stated. Jan Suraaj, led by Prashant Kishor, demanded a CBI probe, citing a lack of trust in state authorities. Party workers described the killing as a targeted political assassination aimed at silencing Jan Suraaj’s growing influence in rural Bihar.
Anant Singh denies involvement
Anant Singh, widely known as “Chhote Sarkar” for his political and social clout in the Mokama region, rejected allegations linking him to the murder. He claimed that former MP Surajbhan Singh—whose wife Veena Devi is contesting the seat on an RJD ticket—had orchestrated a conspiracy to defame him. “This is a political setup to destroy my reputation before the elections. I have nothing to do with this violence,” Anant told reporters. Despite facing several criminal charges, Singh remains an influential political figure. His supporters alleged that Dularchand’s men provoked the clash by tailing Anant’s convoy.
A long-standing rivalry reignites
The animosity between Dularchand Yadav and Anant Singh is not new. Their rivalry, rooted in decades-old territorial and political competition in the Mokama–Barh belt, has often turned violent. Dularchand, once a strong RJD loyalist, drifted away from Lalu Prasad’s party and later joined Jan Suraaj to re-establish his influence in the region. Locals described him as both a social benefactor and a feared figure whose political journey mirrored Bihar’s complex nexus of power and muscle. Police records show that earlier skirmishes between the two camps had been reported in the past months, with Thursday’s incident being the deadliest escalation so far.
Election Commission seeks report
With elections underway, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken note of the incident and sought a detailed report from the Bihar Director General of Police (DGP). Additional police forces have been deployed in Mokama, Barh, and Sripalpur, with checkpoints set up to prevent further clashes. SP Vikram Sihag confirmed that five people have been detained, and more suspects are being tracked. “We will verify call records, vehicle movements, and eyewitness accounts to identify all those involved,” he said.
Law and order under spotlight
The murder has once again raised questions about Bihar’s internal security, especially in areas dominated by criminal-politician networks. Opposition leaders argue that despite tall claims of improved governance, law enforcement continues to struggle against politically backed gangs. The state government has assured swift action. Dularchand’s body was sent to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) for post-mortem, and a special investigation team (SIT) is expected to be formed soon.
Conclusion
Dularchand Yadav’s death has reignited the debate over muscle power in Bihar politics. As rival camps exchange blame and demand probes, the focus now shifts to whether justice can prevail in a system often entangled with political protectionism. The killing serves as a grim reminder of how fragile peace remains in Bihar’s hinterland, especially during election season.