GOONDA PARADE ON ARA ROAD

GOONDA PARADE ON ARA ROAD

22-OCT-ENG 12

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-----------------------The police conducted a 'goonda parade' (a public march of suspects) for three individuals, including the prime suspect, Chandan Singh, in connection with the murder of Ramkumar Singh—a former Customs officer and president of the Kshatriya Kalyan Sangh. Before presenting them in court, the Nawada police paraded the three accused—Chandan Singh (a resident of Barki Singahi village), Abhishek Yadav (from Bind Toli), and Tipu Kumar (from Chandwa Housing Colony)—through the streets.

The police team escorted the three suspects on foot from the Nawada police station, passing through Karman Tola, Mathia Mor, Mahavir Tola, and Ramna Road, before reaching the courthouse. Large crowds gathered on both sides of the road to witness the parade, while a heavy police contingent remained deployed in the area. The public has widely praised this police action, noting that it will likely demoralize criminals.

It is worth noting that on the morning of October 15, at approximately 6:00 AM, Ramkumar Singh—the former Customs officer and Kshatriya Kalyan Sangh president—was shot dead in the Kanakpuri neighborhood as he was leaving his home for a morning walk. As he was locking his garage after taking out his car, assailants on a motorcycle, who had been lying in wait, fired seven to eight rounds at him.

A case has been registered based on the statement of the former officer’s son, Amit Kumar (alias Goldy). The FIR names 14 individuals, including Chandan Singh, the then-Station House Officer (SHO) of the Mufassil police station—Inspector Ram Kalyan Yadav—and revenue department employee Vishnu Dev Singh. Chandan Singh and others are accused of carrying out the shooting, while Inspector Ram Kalyan Yadav, revenue employee Vishnu Dev Singh, and others are accused of conspiring to commit the murder. On the day of the incident, the police arrested one suspect, Manoj Singh (alias Lucky). Chandan and Abhishek were subsequently arrested in Kolkata, while Tipu was apprehended in Ara. In the Nawada police station area of ​​Ara, the atmosphere in the city shifted when the prime suspect in the Ramkumar Singh murder case, Chandan Singh, along with his accomplices, was paraded on foot—in handcuffs—en route to the court and jail. Such public parades had all but vanished over the last decade or two. However, when crime reaches its zenith and the fear of the law completely evaporates from the hearts of criminals, such stern and extraordinary measures become necessary.

Looking at the backdrop of this entire episode, it is clear that this was not merely a case of murder; it was a chilling web woven from greed, a quest for dominance, and a deep-seated conspiracy. Ramkumar Singh—a respected figure in society and the president of the 'Kshatriya Kalyan Sangathan' (Kshatriya Welfare Organization)—was brutally murdered. The primary motive behind this heinous act was a land dispute valued at five crore rupees.

Following the murder, Chandan Singh employed every possible tactic to evade the law. He frequently changed his hideouts to conceal his identity and constantly swapped mobile SIM cards to mask his location. Yet, as the saying goes, the arm of the law is long. The Bhojpur Police’s technical team and intelligence network worked tirelessly, monitoring every move of this cunning criminal.

Ultimately, after relentless efforts, he was apprehended at Kolkata’s Dum Dum Airport. With this high-profile arrest, the police also made significant breakthroughs on other fronts related to the murder. So far, four individuals have been put behind bars in connection with the case—including the prime suspect, Chandan Singh; an individual named Abhishek; and Rakesh, a land surveyor (*amin*) involved in the land transaction. Additionally, another suspect, Manoj—alias 'Lucky'—had already been arrested and sent to jail by the police. The most striking and widely discussed aspect of this entire operation was the public parade of the miscreants. During this process, the police effectively leveraged both traditional media and social media platforms to ensure the message reached a wide audience. As the accused—handcuffed and visibly distressed—were marched on foot through the city’s main thoroughfares, every onlooker’s gaze remained fixed on the scene. This was not merely an administrative procedure; it was a psychological tactic designed to crush the arrogance of the criminals. It sent a clear message to society that no one is above the law, and that those who seek to assert their dominance through the barrel of a gun are destined to end up in such a state of public humiliation and legal entrapment.

Local citizens, intellectuals, and business owners have showered praise on this bold initiative by the Bhojpur police. Witnessing such a spectacle after decades has instilled a renewed sense of confidence among the general public. People believe that such firm and visible action will restore the fear of the law—and the police—in the minds of criminals. Realizing that escaping the grip of the law is impossible and that they could face such public disgrace, criminals will think twice—or perhaps a hundred times—before committing a crime.