- By Shivam Shandilya
- Wed, 22 Jan 2025 10:41 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Anant Singh, the former Bihar MLA, escaped unhurt following an exchange of fire between two groups in Patna on Wednesday, reports news agency PTI, quoting police officials. No casualty was reported in the firing so far, Patna's Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Avkash Kumar said.
"There are reports that 12 to 15 rounds of bullets were fired in a shootout between two groups in Nauranga village in Barh on the outskirts of Patna district. The matter is being investigated. Senior officials have reached the spot," the SSP told PTI.
A police team, upon receiving a call that the incident of firing took place in Nauranga village in the evening, reached the spot and recovered three spent cartridges, Barh Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Rakesh Kumar told reporters.
On being asked about details of the incident, the ASP said, "Conflicting versions are coming from the area. We are investigating these. A section of villagers claimed that initially some shots were fired, on the instructions of the former MLA, by his supporters."
Some people claimed that there was an exchange of fire between the two groups.
"No one, including the former MLA, has been injured in the incident," the Barh ASP said.
However, the ASP ruled out the possibility of a gang war and said, "As claimed by villagers, one side fired in retaliation only. It does not appear to be a gang war".
A case is being registered on the basis of a complaint filed by a family that claimed that their house was targeted during the firing, he added.
Singh, the gangster-turned-politician, whose MLA wife crossed over from the opposition RJD to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U), is also known as 'chhote sarkar'.
Anant Singh represented the Mokama assembly seat several times. The former MLA faced disqualification from the assembly after he was convicted in June 2020 in a case that was registered following the 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.
