ALL LICENSED ARMS WILL BE DEPOSITED AND 50 LOCATIONS WILL BE INSPECTED: PATNA DM

ALL LICENSED ARMS WILL BE DEPOSITED AND 50 LOCATIONS WILL BE INSPECTED: PATNA DM

2-NOV-ENG 3

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA-----------------------Following the arrest of Bihar's powerful leader Anant Singh, all eyes are on the upcoming November 6th and 11th elections and the counting of votes on November 14th. Following the Mokama murder, what preparations are the State Election Commission, Patna District Administration, and Central Election Commission making in this regard? The District Magistrate provided detailed information on this question.

Anant Singh, the ruling JDU candidate, has been arrested in connection with the brutal murder that occurred on October 30th in Mokama, Bihar. How significant is the challenge of this murder, which occurred despite the Model Code of Conduct in force in the state, and the use of licensed and illegal weapons in the state? How complex is the monitoring of criminal elements while maintaining law and order in the current situation? How significant is the challenge of ensuring free and fair elections for the state government and the Election Commission? The Patna District Magistrate has responded to these questions in detail.

Following Anant Singh's arrest in Mokama, District Magistrate (DM) Dr. Thiagarajan SM stated during a press conference in Patna, the capital, that the administration has taken the incident in the Mokama assembly constituency very seriously. The district administration and police have taken several strict measures. As directed by the Election Commission, the code of conduct is being strictly enforced to ensure free and fair elections. Orders have been issued to surrender all licensed weapons, more than 50 checkpoints have been set up in each assembly constituency, and CAPF personnel have been deployed. Raids are continuing to seize illegal weapons. The largest number of seizures have been made in Patna. CAPF personnel are working in coordination with the Bihar Police and the magistrate.

DM Thiagarajan said, "The administration has taken the incident very seriously. We have been camping day and night for the past 48 hours. The situation is now completely normal. Action is being taken against all anti-social elements involved in the incident. In this connection, 80 people were arrested yesterday."

In connection with Anant Singh's arrest, Patna Police Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya K. Sharma stated that on October 30th, a clash broke out between supporters of two rival candidates in Mokama. Several people were injured due to stone-pelting. The deceased, 75-year-old Dularchand Yadav, was a local resident. Police registered a case against both parties and began an investigation. Based on evidence, eyewitness accounts, and the post-mortem report, it was established that the incident was related to a violation of the Model Code of Conduct imposed for the assembly elections.

The SSP stated that the violent clash occurred in the presence of election candidate Anant Singh, and police have named him as the main accused. Anant Singh has been arrested along with his associates Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram. All three will be produced before a magistrate, and the police will continue the investigation into the murder. He stated that the Ghoswari police station received information about a dispute and clash between the two political camps. Police responded promptly to the violence near Tartar village and brought the situation under control. Dularchand Yadav, who lost his life during the violence, had a prior criminal history.

He said, "The Bihar Police wants to assure the voters of Patna that the elections will be held peacefully and they will be able to vote without fear. The Patna Police and administration stand with the voters and no one will be prevented from exercising their right."