Bihar: Former four-time MLA from Bihar’s Mokama constituency, Anant Singh, surrendered on Friday at the Barh civil court in connection with a shoot-out case that took place earlier this week. Following his surrender, he was sent to 14 days of judicial custody at Patna’s Beur Jail.
Anant Singh, a notorious figure in the region known as ‘Chhote Sarkar’ (‘mini-government’) in his stronghold of Mokama-Barh, has been named an accused in the violent gun battle that occurred on January 22. The shoot-out was a result of an ongoing gang rivalry between Singh’s supporters and the gang of his former allies, Sonu and Monu Singh.
Shoot-Out Details
The incident unfolded when Anant Singh was visiting Nauranga-Jalalpur village under Mokama’s Pachmahala Police Station to resolve a business dispute. Members of the rival Sonu-Monu Singh gang reportedly opened fire on his convoy. In retaliation, Singh’s supporters fired back, leading to an intense exchange of gunfire. Eyewitnesses stated that up to 60-70 rounds were fired, although police reports confirmed that 16-17 rounds were exchanged between the two groups.
Despite the heavy gunfire, Anant Singh managed to escape unhurt in the incident. Following the shoot-out, the police registered three First Information Reports (FIRs) related to the case.
Escalating Gang Rivalry
The gang feud between Anant Singh’s group and the Sonu-Monu Singh gang, which had been simmering for some time, continued to escalate. On the same day of the shooting, fresh firing was reported from Hamza village, also in Mokama district. This new incident occurred outside the residence of Mukesh Singh, a supporter of Anant Singh. Local police confirmed that an investigation into the latest firing is ongoing.
Singh’s Surrender
After the shoot-out, Anant Singh chose to surrender before the Barh civil court, where he was subsequently remanded to Beur Jail. Patna Senior Superintendent of Police, Awkash Kumar, confirmed his surrender, stating that the police were actively pursuing the case and had filed multiple FIRs.
Outside Beur Jail, a large crowd of Singh’s supporters gathered, raising slogans in his favor, reflecting his deep influence in the region.
Singh’s Statement
In a brief interaction with the media following the firing incident, Singh remarked, “I do not fear death. If my people need help, I will go to help them out, whether there is firing or not. Death is absolute and it comes to everyone for sure.” Singh’s statement highlighted his defiant stance, asserting his commitment to his supporters despite the escalating violence around him.
Criminal Background and Political Career
Anant Singh’s history is marked by numerous criminal cases. According to his election affidavit from 2020, Singh faces 38 criminal charges, including seven murders, 11 attempts to murder, and multiple kidnapping cases. Despite this, he has maintained a strong political presence, representing Mokama multiple times.
Singh served as a Janata Dal-United (JD-U) MLA twice, a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA once, and as an independent once. However, he was disqualified from the Bihar Assembly in 2020 following his conviction in a case involving the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, and hand grenades from his ancestral home in 2018. This conviction was overturned in August 2024 by the Patna High Court, leading to his acquittal.
Singh’s political influence remains strong, as his wife, Nilam Devi, currently serves as the MLA for Mokama. She recently switched allegiance to JD(U) from the RJD.
Fallen Alliances
Once allies, Anant Singh and the Singh brothers—Sonu and Monu—fell out over political differences and allegations of betrayal. The rift deepened when Anant Singh allegedly supported Guddu Singh, a notorious figure in the region who had numerous murder and kidnapping charges against him. Guddu Singh was killed by the Sonu-Monu Singh gang outside Barh court in 2017, further intensifying the feud.
As the investigation into the shoot-out continues, the political and criminal saga of Anant Singh is far from over. His influence in Mokama-Barh, along with the ongoing gang conflict, suggests that this story is likely to develop further in the coming weeks. The case has once again drawn attention to the volatile mix of politics, crime, and power in Bihar, a state where the line between law and influence is often blurred.
