Patna, June 26: Arrested JDU legislator from Mokama Anant Singh is sharing the roof with his arch-rivals - Viveka Pahalwan, Naga Singh, Anil Sharma (Ranchi) and Raju Singh - at Beur Central Jail.
Anant, who had unleashed a reign of terror in the Barh-Mokama Tal area in Patna rural, is lodged in the upper division ward of the high-security prison on the outskirts of the city. The jail authorities reviewed security arrangements today and restricted the entry of other prisoners to the upper division ward in which the ruling party MLA is lodged.
Anant, arrested on Wednesday evening for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of Raju Singh, a realtor of Bihta area in Patna district, had played a vital role in the dramatic arrest of Naga - a resident of Mokama - from Uttam Nagar locality in New Delhi about two years ago. His rivalry with his co-resident and nephew Viveka Pahalwan is an open secret.
Over 12 persons were killed in the gang rivalry between Anant and Viveka, both residents of Ladma village, around 4km south of Barh sub-divisional town. Viveka was accused of plotting the murder of Anant's elder brother Sachchidanant Singh alias Fajo Singh, an advocate. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had participated in Fajo's " shradh" (death rituals). Viveka's brother Sanjay Singh was gunned down in daylight in the city allegedly by Anant's henchmen.
Anil Singh of Ranchi (Jharkhand) developed hostility with Anant because of the close relationship of the former with another Mokama don and former Lok Janshakti Party MP Surajbhan Singh.
Except Raju, all the arch-rivals of Anant gang leaders are lodged in special cells. "We are keeping a close watch on the activities of those lodged in the special cells," said Beur jail superintendent Shivendra Priyadarshi.
"He (Anant) is more worried about his security inside the prison because his rivals are lodged in the same jail. Nine associates of Bhola Singh (Pandarak), who were arrested with sophisticated firearms like self-loading rifles and carbine at Anant's instance, are also cooling their heels in the Beur Central Jail," a close associate of Anant told The Telegraph .
Anant's clout can be gauged from the fact that a former minister in the Nitish cabinet preferred to maintain a low profile after the duo clashed over a portion of land in an upcoming locality of the city about two years ago.
Anant's criminal antecedents date back to 1976. Records available with the criminal investigation department revealed that the first case against Anant was related to theft. Police records reveal that he first tasted blood with the murder of his neighbour, Ram Bol Singh, but he gained notoriety after he avenged the murder of elder brother Biranchi Singh, who was murdered by the Munni Lal gang.
The next to fall prey to Anant's bullet was Paramhansh Singh in 1992. But his notoriety spread in the Tal area after the killing of don Bacchu Singh at Saksohra village a day before the Assembly polls in 2000. Anant's elder brother late Dilip Singh was in the fray in which he was defeated by Surajbhan Singh (Mokama).
After being elected people's representative, he stepped into real estate and accumulated huge wealth. According to an affidavit filed before the Election Commission of India in 2005, Anant had assets worth Rs 3.4 lakh, which increased to Rs 38.84 lakh before the 2010 Assembly polls. "His property has increased 1000 per cent in the past decade," a source in the JDU said.
The police records showed that Anant had 35 cases pending against him, mostly in police stations in the city. Over a dozen cases of murder, extortion and kidnapping had been lodged against him at Kotwali, SK Puri, Shashtri Nagar, Patliputra and Bahadurpur police stations.
Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Vikas Vaibhav said all the cases lodged against Anant would be reviewed. A police team today conducted a raid at a mall on Fraser Road and picked up Anant's four associates. "We will seek his remand in a case lodged against him under the Arms Act," the SSP told The Telegraph .
The Patna police have also decided to book him under the Crime Control Act.
