Patna: Tension gripped Mokama following the murder of Dularchand Yadav, a supporter of the Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) candidate, in the Bhadaur police station area of Pandarak block under the Mokama Assembly constituency. The killing, which took place during election campaigning, has led to widespread unrest and a heavy police deployment across the region.
Police said three separate First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered in connection with the incident, which occurred on Thursday afternoon. Dularchand’s body could not be removed for over 16 hours as angry villagers blocked the police from taking it for post-mortem. It was eventually sent to Barh Subdivisional Hospital on Friday morning following negotiations with his family and supporters.
According to officials, the first FIR was filed by Neeraj Kumar, the deceased’s grandson, naming former Mokama MLA Anant Singh, along with Karamveer Singh, Rajveer Singh, Kanjay Singh, and Chhotan Singh. The complaint accuses them of orchestrating Dularchand’s murder during campaigning for JSP candidate Piyush Priyadarshi.
A second FIR, lodged by Jitendra Kumar of Nalanda district, names Priyadarshi himself, along with Lakhan Mahato, Bajo Mahato, Nitish Mahato, Ishwar Mahato, Ajay Mahato, and over a hundred unidentified individuals. They have been accused of attempted murder, assault, and vandalism.
The third FIR, filed by Bhadaur police station chief Raviranjan Chauhan, charges unidentified supporters from both factions with opening fire in public, pelting stones, and damaging vehicles—actions that disrupted law and order in the area.
The violence following the murder spread from Mokama to Barh, as Dularchand’s supporters blocked roads and vandalised vehicles. Despite appeals from Rural Superintendent of Police Vikram Sihag and senior officers, villagers initially refused to allow the police to take possession of the body.
When the body was finally moved on a tractor-trolley escorted by RJD candidate Veena Devi, JSP candidate Piyush Priyadarshi, and family members, fresh protests erupted along the route. Supporters reportedly tore down campaign posters of Anant Singh and shouted slogans. At one point, the convoy was halted for nearly ten minutes in Kanhaipur village before police intervened to restore order.
As the procession reached the Pandarak border, Veena Devi’s car was pelted with stones, leaving the vehicle’s windows shattered. The body was taken to Barh Subdivisional Hospital about six hours later under tight security.
Police sources said they feared the violence could escalate into a larger confrontation. Paramilitary forces were deployed from Tartar to Barh, and patrols have since been intensified to prevent further clashes.
RJD candidate Veena Devi and MP Pappu Yadav visited Tartar village on Friday to meet Dularchand’s family. Both leaders condemned the killing and demanded a high-level inquiry.
