The Crime Chronicles of Bihar:
Once a beacon of industrial prosperity, Mokama is now shadowed by crime and political vendetta. Once known for its fertile lands, the Tal region became the epicenter of gang wars in the 1980s, with strongmen like Anant Singh laying claim but facing relentless opposition.
Surajbhan Singh, Rajan Tiwari, and Sonu-Monu are names that continue to send chills down the spine. A tale of power struggles over land and retaliation, where gunfire echoes through every lane. The Tal gang dared to challenge Anant Singh's dominance, leading to rivers of bloodshed. Mokama's political landscape is still entrenched in these hostilities.
Rise of 'Chhote Sarkar'
Known as 'Chhote Sarkar,' Anant Singh was born in 1961 in the village of Ladma, from humble beginnings. During his early years, he committed his first murder, catapulting him into an infamy-laden life of abductions and murders by the 1990s. Anant's brother, Dilip Singh, became known as 'Bade Sarkar,' serving multiple terms as an MLA.
Political Journey
Anant Singh ventured into politics in 2005, endorsed by JDU, swiftly securing a victory from Mokama despite facing over 38 criminal cases. Viewed as a hero among voters, he has even won elections from behind bars. His wife, Neelam Devi, preserved the political legacy in 2022, but adversaries never left him at peace.
A Notorious Figure - Surajbhan Singh
Surajbhan Singh, dubbed 'Dada,' hails from a farming family and rose from poverty to monopolize railway contracts. With a history of 26 criminal cases, including the infamous murders of 1992 and 1998, he overcame legal hurdles but remains politically sidelined. Defeating Anant's brother with 70,000 votes as an independent in 2000, he joined politics with LJP, later becoming an MP. Still exerting influence over railway contracts, his conflicts with Anant persist.
Across the Border: Rajan Tiwari's Influence
Rajan Tiwari is a notorious figure since the 1990s, associated with infamous dons and known for police shootouts. An individual against whom non-bailable warrants have been issued since 1998, his animosity with Anant over land deals endures, stemming from political support for Nitish Kumar in 2000. Rajan remains a symbol of organized crime, leading operations from across states.
Betrayal Amongst Brothers: Sonu-Monu
Once close allies, brothers Sonu and Monu Singh turned against Anant post his 2015 arrest. Emerging from train robberies to establish a regional influence with backing from Mafia Boss Mukhtar Ansari, their rebellion peaked with a violent property dispute, declaring the end of Anant's reign. Sonu remains vocal, while Monu was apprehended in August 2025. Their once united front now denotes one of Mokama's defining feuds.
The Menace Along the Ganges: Tal Gang
The fertile lands along the Ganges, now a crime haven, harbor the Tal gang—a group notorious since the 1980s for land seizures and tyranny. Symbolizing caste-fueled strife, the gang remains staunchly opposed to Anant's empire-building efforts. Figures like Dularchand Yadav have challenged him, with escalating violence like the turmoil leading to Dularchand’s assassination.
The Political Tug-of-War with Surajbhan
Initiating with the 2000 election defeat of Anant's brother, the rivalry with Surajbhan extends beyond mere electoral combat. Clashing over territorial control and bidding for railway contracts, both have wielded caste politics advantageously, deeply influencing Mokama's tumultuous political atmosphere.
Rajan Tiwari's Cross-Border Conspiracy
Theatre of Anant's conflicts extends to UP border with Rajan Tiwari maneuvering to undermine him through strategic alignments and gangster networks, particularly impacting Anant's business interests. Persistent skirmishes over smuggling routes reflect a drawn-out vendetta challenging Anant’s dominance.
The Sonu-Monu Insurrection: From Allies to Rivals
Initial camaraderie with Anant disintegrated as betrayals ensued post-2015. Following their allegiance shift to Mukhtar Ansari, escalations peaked in 2025, with armed clashes threatening Anant’s supporters. Captured videos taunted Anant's dwindling power as they campaigned to uproot his influence.
The Unyielding Battle of Tal
The most enduring adversarial force against Anant has been the Tal gang’s agenda, gripping lands since the 1980s. Amid social fractures, Anant's attempts to dominate the region met with stubborn resistance. Notably, the murder of Dularchand Yadav incited further bloodshed, exacerbating existing enmities.
Politics of Crime in Mokama
Crime shapes the politics of Mokama; Anant claimed dominance over the assembly seat since 2005, but conspiracies thrive against him, notably through rival candidate Veena Devi in 2025. Inter-gang alliances, crime syndicates, and hollow promises underlie Mokama's volatile political narrative—an arena where lineage and clout dictate the ballots.
An Inherited Conflict
Enemies of Anant Singh span political, territorial, and criminal boundaries, with prejudice-led violence shaping Mokama's present-day hostilities. Surviving onslaughts and countering longstanding conspiracies, including betrayals by former allies and external threats, remain central to his enduring legacy.
