New Delhi: A day after a shooting incident involving his supporters and another ciminal near Patna, gangster-turned-politician Anant Singh on Thursday said that his men only responded to the firing by a group of criminals.
The former Mokama MLA, who is also known as ‘chhote sarkar’, alleged that local police is involved with the accused local gangsters Sonu and Monu, who opened fire at his men at a village near Patna.
“We will also respond if someone will open fire at us… we are not wearing bangles. I am not afraid of going to jail. I am also not going to ask for security from police… they are involved with Sonu and Monu. My people were fired upon first by the Sonu and Monu gang members,” said Singh.
What led to shooting on Anant Singh’s convoy?
While talking about the yesterday’s incident, Singh said a group of poor people from Nauranga village met him and alleged that they have been thrown out of their houses by some influential people, who also locked their residences.
“I went to the village in the evening and asked my supporters to open the locks. I also asked my people to call those who had forcibly locked the houses of poor people. When my men reached the home of Sonu-Monu (villagers), they were attacked. Supporters of Sonu-Monu started firing and my men also retaliated,” PTI quoted Singh.
“One of my supporters has sustained a bullet injury. Local police did not take action on the complaints filed by poor villagers in the area,” added Singh.
Singh escaped unhurt following an exchange of fire between two groups near Patna on Wednesday. As per media reports about 12-15 rounds were fired during the shooting incident at Nauranga village in Barh on the outskirts of Patna district.
Who is Anant Singh?
Anant Singh’s MLA wife crossed over from RJD to CM Nitish Kumar’s JD(U). Singh has represented the Mokama assembly seat several times.
The former legislator was disqualied from the assembly after he was convicted in June 2020 in a case about recovery of an AK-47 rifle, ammunition and two hand grenades from his ancestral residence two years earlier.
However, in August 2024, the Patna High Court acquitted Singh of the criminal charges of illegally possessing an AK-47 rifle along with other arms and directed the authorities to release him from jail.
