Anant Kumar Singh and (above) Viveka Singh. Telegraph pictures

Patna, Aug. 31: The rivalry between JD(U) MLA Anant Kumar Singh and his arch rival Viveka Singh, alias Viveka Pahalwan, is set to take a twist following the murder of Jaleshwar Singh, a close relative of the legislator, at Barh in Patna rural.

Jaleshwar, 55, was shot dead by armed criminals when he was stepping towards Barh police station on foot from his house on Tuesday morning. The news of Jaleshwar’s murder spread like wildfire in the area and a large number of supporters of the MLA reached the spot.

Though the Barh sub-divisional police officer Ramanand Kaushal claimed the situation to be under control, locals said the MLA was very upset after the killing of Jaleshwar. “Jaleshwar’s death has come as a bolt from the blue for Anant as Jaleshwar used to look after his legal affairs,” a close associate of the MLA told The Telegraph.

At least half-a-dozen persons have so far been killed in the rivalry between Anant and Pahalwan. Pahalwan, who is facing charges of murder, kidnapping and extortion, had been accused of masterminding the murder of Jaleshwar.

Earlier, Pahalwan’s name had figured in the murder of the MLA’s elder brother Sacchidanant Singh, alias Fajo Singh, who was killed in Barh about two years ago. Fajo, who was an advocate, fell prey to the bullets of the assailants when he was on his way to the market in Barh sub-divisional town. His driver, Awadhesh, was also killed in the incident.

Apart from Pahalwan, his son Raja Parikshit and his associates Lalit Kumar, Ekalavya Kumar, Kanhaiya Kumar, Rajiv Kumar, Rajesh Kumar, Abhay Singh and Shiv Kumar were made accused in the murder of Fajo.

Earlier, Pahalwan’s brother Sanjay Singh (contractor) was killed allegedly by Anant Singh’s men near the office of the rural engineering organisation on Boring Canal Road in Patna on January 8, 2010.

Sources said Sanjay’s murder was fallout of the killing of Fajo Singh. “Sanjay was killed in retaliation to Fajo’s murder but the MLA was given clean chit in the investigation,” said a police officer, who was earlier posted in Patna.

The rivalry between the two led to the murder of Pahalwan’s close associate Sanjit Kumar at Ganga Vihar Colony under Beur police station in Patna in 2006. Sanjit had stopped visiting his native place for the past several years because of threat from Anant’s men, sources said.

Both Anant and Pahalwan hail from the same village Ladma, about 4km south of Barh town. The houses of the two rivals are located nearby.

Pahalwan, who was earlier associated with Anant, parted ways after the raid on the house of Anant by the personnel of Special Task Force during RJD’s regime. Pahalwan was arrested in 2009 and is presently lodged in Beur Central jail.