Soft-spoken, touching the feet of elders irrespective of caste, a patient listener to those in trouble, slain Niraj Singh (35) did not fit the profile of a hot-headed Rajput man from Dhanbad's best-known political family that shot to fame by virtue of its coal mafia links.

Born to Rajan Singh, the younger brother of Suryadeo Singh who rose from a humble colliery worker to the undisputed don of Dhanbad, and homemaker Sarojini Devi, Niraj went to Delhi Public School in Dhanbad and got a BTech degree from Hindustan College of Science and Technology in Mathura.

Popular among trade union workers of Janata Mazdoor Sangh, established by the late Suryadeo, where Niraj was joint secretary, the young man did not have much luck with the ballot.

He joined the BJP before 2009 Assembly polls, but the BJP didn't give him the ticket for Dhanbad. He contested as an Independent but lost to Mannan Mallik of the Congress. He then joined the Congress and was elected as Dhanbad's deputy mayor in 2010.

In 2014, Jharia Assembly poll saw the battle of the two scions, Niraj from Congress and first cousin Sanjeev from BJP. Suryadeo's son Sanjeev drubbed Niraj.

But, Niraj's inter-personal skills helped his youngest brother Eklavya become Dhanbad deputy mayor in 2015.

Despite personal differences with many members of Singh Mansion, Niraj was close to uncle Bachcha Singh, the late Surya Deo's right hand, who reportedly helped him in business. It helped that Bachcha Singh was the urban development minister in governments led by Babulal Marandi and Arjun Munda.

In 2012, Niraj married Poornima Singh of Lucknow.