Bihar: 20 years on, violence returns to Mokama as baahubalis clash for supremacy

PATNA : Guns had fallen silent in Bihar's Mokama, notorious for election violence from late 1980s to 2005, for the last 20 years. But the first political murder on Thursday has opened old wounds in this assembly constituency of the poll-bound state.

Dularchand Yadav (76), a local strongman, was first shot and then ran over by an SUV during a clash between two groups in Mokama "taal (riverine)" area. He was taking part in a poll campaign led by Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) when the clash broke out. The autopsy report states bullet injury in the ankle, broken ribs and internal organ injuries.

The Yadav chieftain's grandson has blamed the JDU candidate and strongman Anant Singh - his two nephews Ranvir and Karmveer - and a dozen unnamed persons for the killing.

Dularchand's writ ran over a large tract of the taal (riverine) area during the 80s and 90s. He was named in several cases of kidnapping, murder and extortion. Out on bail, he had fought assembly polls in 1990 on a Lok Dal ticket, but was defeated by another don, Dilip Singh, by a small margin. Dilip Singh, called "Sarkar" by his supporters, was the elder brother of Anant Singh. Anant is known as "Chhote Sarkar" in Mokama.

There is also a caste factor in play behind the rivalry between Dularchand and the Singh brothers, dating back to the 80s. Dularchand, a Yadav, had been a threat to the political clout wielded by Singh brothers, Bhumihars by caste.

The entry of Surajbhan Singh, another dreaded don from Sankarwar Tola in Mokama town, has threatened to divide the Bhumihar votes. Surajbhan had defeated Dilip Singh by a huge margin in 2000 assembly polls.He later became LJP MP from Balia in 2009. He had several criminal cases lodged against him and was convicted in 2014, and later acquitted in the Brij Bihari murder case.

While Dularchand's family members and supporters have blamed Anant for his killing, the JDU candidate, in turn, has alleged Surajbhan's hand in the murder.

Surajbhan's wife Veena Devi is contesting against Anant Singh on RJD ticket.

Surajbhan has refuted Anant's charges and has demanded a probe by a retired judge into the murder. His wife had rushed to the hospital where Dularchand's autopsy was to be done.

JSP candidate Priyadarshi, too, denied Surajbhan's role in the killing. "Anant Singh was present on the spot. He is responsible for the killing. He should be hanged after a speedy trial," he said. The killing was orchestrated by Anant to give a warning to the backward castes, he alleged.

Dularchand was once a close aide of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. INDIA bloc's CM face Tejashwi Prasad Yadav has condemned the incident and has blamed the Nitish govt for "total failure of law and order in state".

Priyadarshi, a Dhanuk, contested as an Independent in 2020 assembly polls. This time, Dularchand was lobbying for an RJD ticket for Priyadarshi, but the party instead picked Veena Devi.

Mokama seat has substantial Dhanuk voters (around 45,000). Combined with Yadav votes (40,000), Priyadarshi has emerged as a force to reckon with. Dhanuks have made their presence felt in this constituency earlier also. Bishun Dhari Lal, a Dhanuk, was elected from Mokama in 1967 on a Republican Party ticket.

Mrityunjay Kumar, a native of Maranchi village, said: "Dularchand was unhappy because Priyadarshi was not given an RJD ticket. If Yadavs of the constituency vote for Jan Suraaj candidate, the RJD candidate will be in trouble." Kumar, however, wondered why JSP chief Prashant Kishor opted for an "RJD discard" as his party nominee. "Kishor did not properly search for a suitable candidate and lapped up the RJD discard," he added.

Meanwhile, JDU has distanced itself from the murder, despite rivals pointing fingers at its candidate. In a statement issued to the media, party spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said: "We strongly condemn the tragic incident. All goondas involved in the incident should be punished at any cost."

Bhumihars voters are the largest caste bloc (around 65,000) in this constituency. Rajputs and Paswans (10,000 each) are other numerically strong caste groups.

Dularchand's killing has put the Mokama don on the backfoot. With no visible support from his party, a hostile crowd of the Yadav-Dhanuk combine and likely dent in the Bhumihar vote bank by Surajbhan's wife Veena Devi, "Chhote Sarkar" is on a sticky wicket. Anant's fortune can smile only if Bhumihars, sensing potential victory of the JSP candidate, treat Veena Devi as a "vote katua" and rally around him.