The Bihar government has released 27 prisoners, including former MP Anand Mohan Singh, who was convicted in the 1994 murder of then Gopalganj District Magistrate G Krishnaiah. G Krishnaiah was killed by a mob allegedly provoked by Anand Mohan Singh. The gangster-turned-politician was sentenced to death in 2007 by a lower court in Bihar, which was commuted to life imprisonment by the Patna High Court. The new rules allow the release of prisoners who have served the actual sentence of 14 years or a sentence of 20 years with remission. The move has sparked controversy, with opposition parties accusing the government of being “anti-Dalit.” The ruling Janata Dal (United) hit back at the BJP, with a “B-team in UP” jibe also at Mayawati. The change in the Bihar prison manual benefits Anand Mohan Singh, a Rajput leader with considerable influence on his caste voters.lFor the last two years, several politicians from the Rajput community have been demanding Singh’s early release. Even Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has on multiple occasions hinted that he “stands by his former colleague”
It seems that the change in the Bihar prison manual that allows the release of prisoners convicted of murdering public servants on duty after serving a certain term has benefitted Anand Mohan Singh, a Rajput leader who has significant influence on his caste voters. Many politicians from the Rajput community, including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, have been demanding Singh’s early release for the past two years.
