Anant Kumar Singh

2021-08-26T11:03:12Z

2409:4063:6D1A:9698:F40E:2736:44B3:B51E: /* Life and career */

{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Anant singh.jpg
| name = Anant Singh
| nickname = Chhote Sarkar<ref name="Upadhyaya"/>
| caption =
| birth_date = 1960/1961 (age 59–61)<ref name="MyNeta"/>
| birth_place = [[Nadwan, Patna|Nadwan]], [[Bihar]], India
| residence =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| constituency = [[Mokama (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Mokama]]
| office = [[Member Of Legislative Assembly]]
| term_start = 2005
| predecessor =
| successor =
| party = [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]]<ref name="HuffRJD"/>
| otherparty = [[Janata Dal (United)]], Independent<ref>{{cite news |title=Bihar MLA Anant Kumar Singh, charged under Arms Act, flees from residence post police raid |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2019/aug/18/bihar-mla-anant-kumar-singh-charged-under-arms-act-flees-from-residence-post-police-raid-2020605.html |access-date=25 August 2020 |work=The New Indian Express |date=18 August 2019}}</ref>
| religion =
| spouse = Neelam Devi
| children = 5-Two daughters and three sons(Rajnandini,Shivangi singh,Ankit Kumar,Abhishek Kumar and Abhinav Kumar
| website =
| footnotes =
| date =
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| source =
}}

'''Anant Kumar Singh''' is an Indian politician and an MLA from the [[Mokama (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Mokama assembly constituency]] of [[Bihar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/nation/the-don-of-mokama|title=The Don of Mokama|website=Openthemagazine.com|access-date=29 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Srivastava |first1=Amitabh |title=Dreaded JD-U MLA, Anant Singh bites dust in Bihar, vacates enchroached area in Patna's posh colony |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/east/story/dreaded-jd-u-mla-anant-singh-vacates-encroachment-in-patliputra-colony-in-patna-154152-2013-02-15 |access-date=7 January 2021 |work=India Today |date=15 February 2013 |language=en}}</ref> A former member of the [[Janata Dal (United)]] party, he joined [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]] in 2020.<ref name="HuffRJD"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/politics/bihar-police-raids-jdu-strongman-anant-singhs-residence-recovers-illegal-weapons-1011257.html|title=CNN-News18 Breaking News India, Latest News Headlines, Live News Updates|website=News1.com8|access-date=29 May 2018}}</ref> According to his election affidavit of 2020, he is facing 38 criminal charges including seven murders, eleven attempt-to-murder and four cases of kidnapping.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/jan/08crime.htm|title=Murder case against Bihar MLA Anant Singh|website=Rediff.com|access-date=29 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/Anant-Kumar-Singh-Surajbhan-Singh-detained/articleshow/33874430.cms|title=Anant Kumar Singh, Surajbhan Singh detained |newspaper=[[Times of India]]|access-date=29 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyo.in/politics/why-bihar-government-wants-this-dabangg-officer-gone/story/1/1179.html|title=Why Bihar government wants this dabangg officer gone|website=Dailyo.in|access-date=29 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Anant Kumar Singh(RJD):Constituency- MOKAMA(PATNA) - Affidavit Information of Candidate |url=https://myneta.info/Bihar2020/candidate.php?candidate_id=9683 |website=myneta.info |access-date=11 November 2020}}</ref>

==Life and career==
Singh the youngest among four brothers was born in a Bhumihar Brahmin family. In the village of [[Nadwan, Patna|Nadawan]] falling under [[Barh]] CD block, [[Bihar]] to Chandradeep Singh and Bacchi Devi.<ref name="MyNeta">{{cite web |title=Anant Kumar Singh(RJD):Constituency- MOKAMA(PATNA) - Affidavit Information of Candidate |url=https://myneta.info/Bihar2020/candidate.php?candidate_id=9683 |website=myneta.info |access-date=18 February 2021}}</ref> He contested and won from the Mokama assembly seat in 2005 on a JDU ticket. He retained the seat in 2010, defeating Sonam Devi of [[Lok Janshakti Party]] (LJP) by a large margin.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}} He is married to Neelam Devi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/502722/don-anant-singh-still-favourite.html|title=Don Anant Singh is still a favourite|website=Deccanherald.com|access-date=29 May 2018}}</ref>
On 2 September 2015, Singh quit the JDU following a fall-out with leader [[Nitish Kumar]] over the JDU's new alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/controversial-jdu-mla-quits-party/|title=Controversial JD(U) MLA quits party|date=3 September 2015|website=Indianexpress.com|access-date=29 May 2018}}</ref>

On 16 August 2019, Singh was booked under the [[Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act]] after the police took possession of an [[AK-47]] rifle, a magazine, live cartridges and two hand grenades following a raid on his ancestral home in Ladma village of [[Patna district]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=PTI |title=Bihar MLA booked under UAPA absconding: Police |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/bihar-mla-booked-under-uapa-absconding-police/articleshow/70727202.cms |access-date=24 August 2019 |work=The Times of India |date=18 August 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2020, Singh was given a ticket from Rashtriya Janata Dal to contest in the upcoming [[2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|Bihar legislative election]].<ref name="HuffRJD">{{cite news |title=RJD Gives Bihar Election Ticket To Don Anant Singh, Who Lalu Prasad Once Got Arrested For Murder |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/rjd-gives-bihar-election-ticket-to-don-anant-singh-who-lalu-prasad-once-got-arrested-for-murder_in_5f7da766c5b60c6bcc64d4be?utm_hp_ref=in-politics |access-date=8 October 2020 |work=HuffPost India |date=7 October 2020 |language=en}}</ref> He won from the [[Mokama (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Mokama constituency]] with 35,291 votes, winning for the seat for the fourth consecutive time.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mokama Election Result 2020 Live Updates: Anant Singh of RJD WINS |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/mokama-election-result-2020-live-updates-mokama-winner-loser-leading-trailing-mla-margin-3061241.html |access-date=10 November 2020 |work=News18 |date=10 November 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

==Criminal cases and influence==
Singh has numerous cases of murder, kidnapping, and [[land grabbing]] lodged against him. The Barh region has remained notorious for dreaded caste wars particularly between two [[Forward Caste]]s of Bihar, the [[Bhumihar]]s and [[Rajput]]s. In these wars he emerged as a saviour of his community. According to locals, people in this region refrain from going outside during night due to fear of being kidnapped or murdered. The fortune of Singh turned when [[Nitish Kumar]], decided to nominate him as his candidate on the ticket of [[Janata Dal (United)]] from the Mokama constituency. It was considered as paradoxical by a section of media that Kumar who vowed to end 'criminalisation of politics' was backing such a person against whom charges of serious cognizable offences were lodged. But, amidst criticism and counter statements Singh managed to win from Mokama seat due to support of his castemen as well as the wave of Nitish Kumar. Singh has been undisputedly five times MLA from Mokama consecutively .<ref name="Rajsingh">{{cite web|url=https://thewire.in/politics/how-changing-equations-may-finally-put-a-stop-to-this-criminal-politicians-career|title=How Changing Equations May Finally Put a Stop to This Criminal Politician's Career|first=Amit|last=Rajsingh|website=thewire.in|access-date=21 July 2020}}</ref>

Singh's activities dragged the nation's attention when in 2007 he was reported to have two journalists from NDTV 24×7 and ''ANI'' news as hostages in his official bungalow. It was reported that they had been there to interview Singh upon his involvement in murder and molestation of a woman called Reshma Khatoon whose body was recovered in a sack near the capital. The political protection given to Singh and another gangster named [[Sunil Pandey]] by the ruling regime was aimed at mobilisation of [[Bhumihar]] caste. According to the locals, Singh who was known as "''Chhote sarkar''" in Mokama is a role model of Bhumihars, who consistently opposed [[Laloo Yadav]]'s regime. Thus, political parties opposing Yadav used him as a tool to mobilise Bhumihar voters.<ref name="Upadhyaya">{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyo.in/politics/nitish-kumar-bihar-assembly-polls-2015-anant-singh-sunil-pandey-jdu-caste-bhumihar-yadav/story/1/5010.html|title=How Nitish Kumar plays the caste card when it suits him|website=Dailyo.in|first=Ashok|last=Upadhyay|access-date=21 July 2020}}</ref>

Singh was also allegedly involved in the murder and assault on four youth after eve teasing of one of the upper-caste girl belonging to Singh's close associate's family happened. The four youth were kidnapped and were beaten badly while the chief accused of eve teasing, Puttus Yadav was tortured till death.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Parashar |first1=Sachin |title=A murder exposes Bihar's caste faultlines {{!}} India News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/A-murder-exposes-Bihars-caste-faultlines/articleshow/49083830.cms?from=mdr |access-date=11 January 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=24 September 2015 |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Anant}}
[[Category:1960s births]]
[[Category:Bihar MLAs 2005–2010]]
[[Category:Bihar MLAs 2010–2015]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Janata Dal (United) politicians]]
[[Category:Crime in Bihar]]
[[Category:Indian prisoners and detainees]]
[[Category:People from Patna district]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Rashtriya Janata Dal politicians]]
[[Category:Bihar MLAs 2020–2025]]
[[Category:Indian politicians convicted of crimes]]

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Anant Kumar Singh