Political Murder in Mokama Reignites Old Rivalries

Patna: Guns had fallen silent in Mokama, notorious for poll violence from late 1980s to 2005, for 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 gunned down during a clash between two groups in Mokama "taal (riverine)" area. He was taking part in a poll campaign led by Jan Suraaj candidate Piyush Priyadarshi when the clash broke out.The Yadav chieftain's grandson has blamed JD(U) Mokama candidate and strongmanAnant Singh, his two nephews Ranvir and Karmveer and dozen unnamed persons for the killing.Dularchand ruled 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 Lokdal ticket, but was defeated by another don Dilip Singh by a small margin. Dilip Singh, called "Sarkar" by his supporters, was elder brother of Anant Singh. Anant is known as "Chhote Sarkar" in the area.The rivalry between Dularchand and the Singh brothers dates 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 Balia LJP MP in 2009.He had several criminal cases lodged against him and was convicted in 2014 and later acquitted in Brij Bihari murder case.While Dularchand's family members and supporters have blamed Anant for the killing, Anant has blamed Surajbhan for the murder.Surajbhan's wife Veena Devi is fighting polls on RJD ticket against Anant Singh in Mokama seat.Surajbhan, on the other hand, has refuted Anant's charges and has demanded probe by a retired judge into the incident. Surajbhan's wife later rushed to the hospital where Dularchand's autopsy was to be done.Jan Suraaj's Priyadarshi, however, denied Surajbhan's hand in the killing. "Anant was present on the spot. He is responsible for the killing.He should be hanged after speedy trial of the case," he said, adding the killing was orchestrated by Anant to give a warning to the backward castes.Dularchand was once a close aide of RJD chief Lalu Prasad. INDIA bloc 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, fought polls as Independent in 2020 assembly polls.This time, Dularchand was lobbying for an RJD ticket for Priyadarshi, but he was denied ticket at the last moment and Veena Devi was declared RJD candidate. Mokama seat has substantial Dhanuk voters (around 45,000). Combined with Yadavs (40,000) votes, 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, had won Mokama seat in 1967 on a Republican Party ticket.Mrityunjay Kumar, a native of Maranchi village, said, "Dularchand was unhappy because Priyadarshi was not given RJD tickets. If Yadavs of the constituency vote for Jan Suraaj candidate, the RJD candidate will be in trouble." Kumar, however, wondered why Jan Suraaj chief Prashant Kishor opted for an "RJD discard" candidate. "Kishor didn't properly search for a suitable candidate and lapped up the RJD discard," he added.Meanwhile, JD(U) has kept itself away from the broad daylight murder. In a strongly-worded statement issued to the media, party spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said, "We strongly condemn the incident. Goondas involved in the incident should be punished at any cost. Police probe is on and the FSL team has reached the spot."Bhumihars are largest in number (around 65,000) in this constituency. Rajputs (10,000) and Paswans (10,000) are other numerically strong caste groups there.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 victory of the Jan Suraaj candidate and treating Veena Devi as a "vote katua", rally around him.