Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, April 27
Former member of Lok Sabha Anand Mohan Singh, who was sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of killing the then district magistrate of Gopalganj, G Krishnaiah, was out of Saharsa jail on early Thursday morning.
Padma, 34 years old daughter of Krishnaiah, regretted Anand’s release and called it unfair, unjust.
Hoardings and posters with Sher-e-Bihar Anand Mohan Singh were put during his road show at Saharsa. The Kahstriya Samaj in Patna displayed huge hoardings on Bailey Road, the main road in the state capital. Shurbhi Anand, daughter and Chetan Anand, his daughter also joined Anand in the road show. He visited a family religious place before leaving for Patna. They addressed a public meeting too.
He immediately left for Patna and promised to invite the family of slain IAS officer to Dehradun on May 3 for wedding of his RJD MLA son Chetan Anand.
Alongwith Anand Mohan,26 other life convicts accused of murder and dacoity were also set free from different jails.They include 13 Yadav and Muslim convicts.One of them Raj Vallabh Yadav,a former legislator was charged with raping and killing a minor girl.
Chief Secretary,Amir Subhani,defended release of “political prisoner,Anand Mohan Singh” and claimed his release was an administrative decision as he had spent over 15 years in jail.He pleaded his ignorance whether the family of G Krishnaiah was consulted before releasing his “killer”.
Subhani said in the last six years,698 prisoners had been released prematurely.
In Hyderabad,Uma Devi widow of Krishnaiah and Andhra Pradesh chapter of IAS Association demanded review of the decision.Since,her husband was a member of the All India services,President and Prime Minister should take note of the Bihar government decision.Padma,daughter of the slain IAS officer requested President and :Prime Minister to intervene and ask Bihar government to send Anand Mohan Singh back to jail.
At Patna High Court,three public interest litigations challenging the Bihar government order to reclassify the ;prisoners have been filed by Anupam Suman,Amitabh Das and Amar Jyoti.
Anand Mohan’s release invited political controversy with state BJP president,Samrat Chaudhury,alleging Anand was implicated in the DM murder case by the then chief minister,Lalu Prasad Yadav.The then CM had got FIR changed to name Anand as the main accuse.The,there was hostility between the backward caste-Yadav and upper caste Rajputs.
LJP(R) president,Chirag Paswan alleged Anand Mohan had been released for political considerations only.There should be a people;s protest against the Bihar government decision.
Former deputy chief minister and BJP leader,Sushil Kumafr Modi,asked the Bihar chapter of IAS Association to support the family of Mrs Krishnaiah and file cases against the release of their colleague’s killers.
Anand Mohan Singh was the face of upper castes against Lalu Yadav’s backward caste ;politics in 90s.He had floated Bihar People’s Party against Lalu Prasad’s Yadav vote banks.There were many clashes between Pappu Yadav patronised by Lalu and Anand Mohan by the then PM,Chandrashekhar.There were Ranveer Sena of upper castes and Lorik Sena of backward Yadavs.
BJP has many recognised Rajput leaders in union Energy minister,R K Singh,Rajiv Pratap Rudy,Radhamohan Singh,both former union ministers,Janardan Singh Sigriwal,MP from Maharajganj.
JDU has no Rajput leader in its fold.Anand Mohan who was member of Lok Sabha thrice and MLA once from North Bihar and his wife,Lovely Anand was also member of Lok Sabha from Sheohar and Vaishali,respectively.They enjoy considerable influence among the Rajput voters whose votes are decisive in 8 Lok Sabha constituencies in Kosi region of North Bihar.JDU is likely to use his oratory skills and organisational capability in the upper caste dominated areas.His supporters from Saharsa to Patna ,who accompanied in over 100 four wheelers were carrying placards describing Anand Singh as Babbar Sher and Sher-e-Bihar.
While JDU may be able to attract Rajput voters, there are apprehensions, Dalit votes may shift away. Bhim Sena ,an organisation of dalits on Wednesday protested against the release of Anand Mohan Singh.
Meanwhile, in a strongly worded resolution the central IAS Association has condemned Bihar government decision to release prematurely the former MP, Anand Mohan Singh, charged with murder of 1985 batch IAS,G Krishnaiah on December 4, 1994, when he was district magistrate of Gopalganj.
Association in a resolution said decision of the state government was denial of justice.It requested the chief minister,Nitish Kumar to reconsider the decision.According to the association,”Release ofn the convicted killer of a public servant on duty is tantamount to denial of justice.Such decision leads to impunity,erosion in morale of a public servant and undermines public order .It is a mockery of the administration of justice.”
Association said “the central IAS Association expresses its deep dismay at the decision to release the convict of the brutal killing of G Krishnaiah by a change in classification rules of prisoners. A convict of a charge of murder of a public servant on duty can not be reclassified to a less heinous category, Amendment of an existing rule of classification which leads to the release of the convicted killer is denial of justice”.
