PATNA: Bihar don-turned-neta Dularchand Yadav , once a familiar face by RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad's side, was shot dead Thursday during a clash in Patna's Mokama Tal , allegedly by assailants linked to rival strongman Anant Singh .
The 75-year-old was campaigning for Jan Suraaj candidate Priyadarshi Piyush when a confrontation between his supporters and Anant's group turned violent, marking the first major political killing of an otherwise peaceful election season.
Jan Suraaj members said their convoy, trailing a vehicle of Anant's supporters, was attacked by 20-25 men armed with sticks and rods. Amid the chaos, Dularchand was fatally shot, they told police.
Anant, nicknamed "Chhote Sarkar" for his influence in the region, alleged the attack was a conspiracy by former Mokama MP Surajbhan Singh, whose wife Veena Devi is contesting from the seat on an RJD ticket. "This is a ploy by Surajbhan to defame me ahead of the polls," he said, demanding an impartial probe.
SP Vikram Sihag said a preliminary investigation indicated both groups first clashed at Basawanchak village under Goswari police station before guns were drawn. "Dularchand's supporters allege he was shot and run over by a vehicle belonging to Anant Singh's men," he said.
Tejashwi Yadav blamed Nitish and Modi for "collapsing law and order" in Bihar.
The 75-year-old was campaigning for Jan Suraaj candidate Priyadarshi Piyush when a confrontation between his supporters and Anant's group turned violent, marking the first major political killing of an otherwise peaceful election season.
Jan Suraaj members said their convoy, trailing a vehicle of Anant's supporters, was attacked by 20-25 men armed with sticks and rods. Amid the chaos, Dularchand was fatally shot, they told police.
Anant, nicknamed "Chhote Sarkar" for his influence in the region, alleged the attack was a conspiracy by former Mokama MP Surajbhan Singh, whose wife Veena Devi is contesting from the seat on an RJD ticket. "This is a ploy by Surajbhan to defame me ahead of the polls," he said, demanding an impartial probe.
SP Vikram Sihag said a preliminary investigation indicated both groups first clashed at Basawanchak village under Goswari police station before guns were drawn. "Dularchand's supporters allege he was shot and run over by a vehicle belonging to Anant Singh's men," he said.
Tejashwi Yadav blamed Nitish and Modi for "collapsing law and order" in Bihar.
You may also like
Is Jamal Murray playing tonight? Denver Nuggets face injury setback ahead of their match against Portland Trail Blazers
Drug trafficking case: ED seizes property records after multi-city search operations
Voter list used to mark houses of Sikh community: Hardeep Puri recounts 1984 anti-Sikh riots
Assam CM Sarma distributes cheques to 13,822 women under Mukhyamantrir Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan in Tinsukia
Disney pulls ABC, ESPN and more from YouTube TV as talks break down
