Singh Mansion — the indisputable seat of power in Dhanbad and home to members of the coal town’s self-proclaimed first family — is made of bricks of blood and gore, and its saga of ruthless violence can only be compared to the fictional Italian mafia family in Mario Puzo’s Godfather.

Late Suryadeo Singh, who gave birth to this epicentre of clout in the 1970s, originally hailed from Balia in Uttar Pradesh. He came to Dhanbad in search of job in the 1950s and became the able lieutenant of then coal mafia leader B.P. Sinha. Hunger for power and pelf propelled Suryadeo’s meteoric rise. Treacherously replacing his mentor, he became the don of Dhanbad. 

Suryadeo’s fortunes became directly proportional to the flowing blood in the Coal Belt. Some people revered him for purging criminal gangs and bringing stability of sorts in the politically volatile region (he went on to become the MLA of Jharia in 1977). 

Most others feared him; and respect followed by default.

Tuesday’s brutal killing of former Dhanbad deputy mayor and Suryadeo’s nephew Niraj Singh (32), a stone’s throw from the Singh Mansion, are grim reminders of several high-profile murders this first family has been involved in since the 1970s. 

That the needle of suspicion in Congress leader Niraj’s killing is pointing towards the late don Suryadeo’s son and BJP’s Jharia MLA Sanjeev Singh also underscores that money is thicker than blood on the malicious streets of the coal capital.

 

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January 29, 2017
Victim: Ranjay Singh
Ranjay was a close aide of Jharia MLA and Singh Mansion scion Sanjeev Singh. He was shot dead on his way to Sanjeev’s residence. 
Raja Yadav, a common friend who was riding pillion with Ranjay, escaped that attack. Raja told police that he had seen two men at the gate of Raghukul, a neighbouring mansion where Niraj Singh lived, and they killed Ranjay. 

Now, that pins a motive on Sanjeev in Tuesday’s killing of Niraj, his personal assistant, a bodyguard and driver

December 8, 2011
Victim: Suresh Singh
Suresh was the district treasurer of Congress with interests in coal and was gunned down at Dhanbad Club during the wedding reception of a renowned hotelier’s son. 

Bereaved father Tejnarayan Singh in his FIR charged Sanjeev Singh, his uncle Ramadhir Singh and Ramadhir’s son Sashi Singh with murder. Sanjeev and Ramadhir were acquitted for want of evidence. Sashi is still on the run

January 25, 1999
Victim: Sakaldeo Singh
The trade union leader was headed to Dhanbad from Sijua when his jeep was intercepted by two SUVs. A hail of bullets killed Sakaldeo. Suryadeo’s brothers Bachcha Singh and Ramadhir Singh were accused, but both acquitted

July 15, 1998
Victim: Vinod Singh
A trade union leader and brother of Sakaldeo Singh, he was shot dead in his car with an AK-47 near Bhagat Singh Chowk in Katras in broad daylight. 

Dun Bahadur Singh, young brother of Vinod, in his FIR named Bachcha Singh and Ramadhir Singh. Suryadeo’s eldest son Rajeev Ranjan Singh was also named. 

Although Bachcha and Rajeev were later exonerated, Ramadhir was awarded life imprisonment in the case

May 27, 1996
Victim: Sanjay Singh
A coal merchant, he was shot dead in front of the Dhanbad SP’s residence. The wives of Sanjay and Rajan Singh were sisters. Word got out and Ramadhir’s name figured in the murder FIR. He was, however, acquitted

September 25, 1991
Victim: Raju Yadav
The Janata Dal leader was killed at Mughalsarai railway station when he was on his way to Delhi to participate in a rally. RJD boss Lalu Prasad had accompanied the body back to Dhanbad, then part of an undivided Bihar. 

Fingers were raised at the Singh Mansion. Abo Devi, widow of Raju Yadav, later became Jharia MLA and a minister in the Lalu government

March 28, 1979
Victim: B.P. Sinha
The most high-profile murder was that of this towering Indian National Trade Union Congress leader-turned-coal mafia boss. Sinha was gunned down inside his house. 

Family members suspected the role of then Jharia MLA Suryadeo Singh who was charged with murder, but exonerated for want of evidence