Crime Tale of Bihar:
The intertwining of crime and politics in Mokama, Bihar, is a tale as old as time. It's the same area that gained notoriety during the legislative elections due to a murder case linked to the infamous Anant Singh. Here, the dominance of deadly weapons like AK-47s has long cast a shadow. Seven years ago, the unexpected discovery of 12 AK-47 rifles from an old well in Munger District stirred a storm. But this well was not alone; the police found similar weapons in various places across the district. In 'Bihar's Crime Saga,' delve into the full narrative.
Munger District in Bihar is infamous for its weaponry. During the British era, a gun factory was situated there, and its workers learned the art of making illicit arms. After its closure, the workers continued this craft. It is said that Munger still produces weapons from locally made pistols to AK-47s. Being close to the Ganges makes smuggling easier. Before 2018, improvised guns and home-made bombs were frequently seized, but the retrieval of AK-47s sent shockwaves. Given the Naxal-affected area, this was alarming as these arms could reach Naxalites.
The craftsmen involved in this illegal trade would assemble rifles based on demand. However, as times changed, police pressure increased, causing some illegal arms units to move to Malda or Jharkhand. Yet, Munger remained a pivotal hub for illegal arms smuggling.
August 29, 2018
This is the date when arms smuggler Imran was apprehended in Jamalpur Thana area of Munger. Three AK-47 rifles were recovered from him. This discovery heightened awareness among law enforcement agencies. During questioning, Imran confessed that the weapons came from Jabalpur. That very day, a woman was also detained. This prompted a major search operation by the Munger police, anticipating a substantial find.
September 28, 2018
Exactly a month later, the police team arrived at an old well in Baradah village. The entire village was baffled about why police were interested in the old well. Upon inspection, 12 AK-47 rifles were recovered. The well, nestled among fields where every house had been searched, contained rifles wrapped in plastic and carbon. The locals remained silent in fear, leaving everyone, particularly intelligence agencies, stunned by the discovery.
Theft from Jabalpur Depot
The investigation into the AK-47 discovery was intensified. The inquiry revealed that all weapons were stolen from the Central Ordnance Depot (COD) in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. The orchestrator was identified as Purushottam Lal, a former employee of the depot, who had pilfered parts for over 60 AK-47s from a store of defective arms since 2012. Lax security and poor record-keeping facilitated this theft. Weapons assembled from stolen parts were sold to Munger smugglers Imran and his brother-in-law Mohammad Gulshad alias Gulo, who served in the Defence Service Corps in Siliguri. Subsequently, the arms were hidden in Baradah village. Based on Imran's information, the police excavated the well and recovered all the rifles, mostly new. This network had reached Naxalites and criminals.
Revealing the Smuggling Network
In the operations of 2018, Munger police scoured rivers, streams, wells, and jungles. Using sniffer dogs and sophisticated equipment, they had breakthroughs. 20 AK-47s and 500 parts were seized. On October 2, 91 spare parts were discovered in a house in Manzar Vardha village, but the family had fled. A woman named Aamna Khatun revealed during questioning the secret of hiding parts in the well. Two ready AK-47s were also found at her house. Altogether, 13 individuals were arrested. Manzar Alam alias Manji, the kingpin, was apprehended in Patna. He was involved in bringing 50-60 rifles from Jabalpur and selling them to Naxalites and coal mafias.
NIAs Investigation
The assortment of illicit weapons left law enforcement on tenterhooks. Manzar Alam was deemed the kingpin of AK-47 smuggling in Bihar. In 2014, he had been caught in Patna with an extensive cache of bullets, and his name surfaced again in the Munger case while he hid in Buddha Colony. During interrogation, Imran revealed that on August 29, Purushottam Lal had handed over two bags of AK-47s; one to Imran and the other to Shamsher Alam. On September 7, three AK-47s were seized from the residence of Shamsher's sister, Rizwana. Manzar was channeling funds from coal mafia in Ramgarh, Jharkhand, and supplying weapons to Naxalites in Gaya and Aurangabad. Considering the gravity of the case, the investigation was handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The First Blow to Anant Singh
Meanwhile, in 2015, notorious figure Anant Singh was arrested by Patna Police in a significant operation. He faced charges of murder involving three youths. Furthermore, an Insas rifle was found at his residence in Patna, causing an uproar. Back then, he was a JD(U) MLA but had differences with Nitish Kumar. Consequently, he contested the 2015 elections as an independent candidate and won, despite being in jail. Anant alleged a political conspiracy against him. Later, he was granted bail, although the case continued.
August 16, 2019
On this day, Patna (Rural) SP Kantesh Mishra and ASP Lipi Singh conducted a raid at Anant Singh's ancestral house in Ladma village. The operation lasted 11 hours, and an AK-47, 26 cartridges, a magazine, and two grenades, wrapped in plastic-carbon, were recovered from his house, which had been locked for 14 years. During the raid, caretaker Sunil Ram was present. The raid was videographed in the presence of a magistrate. At the time, Anant Singh accused JD(U) MP Lalan Singh of conspiracy, as his wife Neelam Devi contested against Lalan from Munger. He was charged under the UAPA and surrendered himself.
June 14, 2022
The illicit weapons case proved costly for Anant Singh. In the AK-47 case, the court found him guilty.
June 21, 2022
Subsequently, the MP-MLA court sentenced Anant Singh to 10 years in prison. Sunil Ram, the house caretaker, received the same sentence. Consequently, Anant Singh lost his legislative position. He was incarcerated in Beur Jail and later appealed to the High Court.
August 14, 2024
This was the day when the Patna High Court acquitted Anant Singh in the illicit arms case due to a lack of evidence. The prosecution failed to prove the case, allowing Anant to be freed from custody, though 28 cases still remain against him.
October 30, 2025
In Mokama, the convoy of Anant and Jansuraj leader Piyush Priyadarshi collided. Following the clash, 75-year-old Dularchand Yadav was murdered. The FIR accused Anant Singh of firing shots and hitting him with a vehicle.
November 1, 2025
In the dead of night, Patna SSP Kartikey Sharma orchestrated raids in Barah with 12 vehicles, arresting Anant Singh, Manjit Thakur, and Ranjit Ram. Anant claimed it was again a conspiracy. Bihar Police DG cited actions based on concrete evidence.
November 2, 2025
Following his arrest, Anant Singh was presented in court and remanded in judicial custody for 14 days. His arrest has escalated tensions in Mokama, prompting the Election Commission to deploy a heavy police force.
