Patna, Oct 31 (ANI): The last rites of Dularchand Yadav being performed at the Badh Ghat, as he was allegedly shot dead during an election campaign in the Mokama area, in Patna on Friday. (ANI Video Grab)

NEW DELHI: Taking firm action in the wake of recent murder of Jan Suraaj Party supporter Dularchand Yadav in Mokama assembly constituency in Bihar, the Election Commission on Saturday ordered the replacement of superintendent of police (SP), Patna Rural, and the Mokama returning officer.The poll panel also called for initiation of disciplinary proceedings against Mokama returning officer Chandan Kumar and two sub divisional police officers Rakesh Kumar and Abhishek Singh “at the earliest” and asked the report to be furnished to the commission. The EC further directed the immediate suspension of Abhishek Singh over the purported ‘law and order’ lapse. In a communication sent on Saturday to the Bihar chief electoral officer, the commission said it had approved the replacement of Chandan Kumar, sub-divisional officer (SDO) of Barh and returning officer of Mokama AC, with Ashish Kumar, an IAS officer and currently additional municipal commissioner of Patna Municipal Corporation. The poll panel also approved Anand Kumar Singh, deputy SP (DySP), CID, Patna as Rakesh Kumar’s replacement and brought Ayush Shrivastava, Dy SP, Anti-Terrorist Squad, Patna, in place of Abhishek Singh.Directing that Patna Rural SP Vikram Sihag may also be transferred, the EC urgently sought a panel of officers for posting his substitute. “A compliance report in this regard may be furnished by 12 noon of Nov 2, 2025,” EC told the CEO. Dularchand Yadav was shot dead in Mokama a couple of days back in the middle of election campaign. The murder triggered a political slugfest with different parties condemning the incident. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav cited the incident as a law and order failure and questioned the Patna administration and the EC over action to be taken in the wake of the incident. Mokama – which goes to polls on Nov 6 — is known for being a stronghold of controversial ‘bahubalis’ or strongmen who use muscle-power to disturb the level playing field and influence electors to vote for their favoured candidate.