Former Bihar MLA Anant Singh surrendered to a Barh court on Friday, facing charges related to a shootout on the outskirts of Patna. The incident, which occurred Wednesday evening, involved an alleged attack on Singh’s convoy by the notorious Sonu-Monu gang. The ensuing exchange of gunfire, according to eyewitness accounts, involved a significant volume of shots – estimates ranging from 60 to 70 rounds, though police reported a lower figure of 16-17.

Remarkably, Singh escaped unharmed. Following his surrender, he was remanded to Beur jail. Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Awkash Kumar confirmed the surrender and the filing of three separate FIRs concerning the incident.

The shootout unfolded amidst a backdrop of escalating tensions in Mokama, a region with a history of violent crime and political rivalry. The involvement of the Sonu-Monu gang, known for its criminal activities, added a layer of complexity to the already volatile situation.

Singh’s supporters retaliated to the initial attack, leading to the intense exchange of gunfire that gripped the area. The incident underscores the deep-seated power struggles and lawlessness that persist in certain parts of Bihar.

Adding to the escalating tension, another shooting incident was reported on Friday in Hamza village, under the jurisdiction of Panchmahal police station in Mokama. Three spent cartridges were found near Mukesh Singh’s house, prompting an immediate investigation.

Senior police officials were deployed to the scene to assess the situation and gather evidence. The timing and location of this second incident suggest a possible connection to the previous day’s events, raising concerns about further escalation of violence.

Police have apprehended two suspects, Sonu and Roushan, in connection with Wednesday’s shooting. Investigations suggest that the Sonu-Monu gang specifically targeted Mukesh Singh, a former associate of the gang who had allegedly sought protection and assistance from Anant Singh. This suggests a complex network of allegiances and betrayals within the criminal underworld of Mokama.

Anant Singh, a controversial figure with a history of both political success and criminal accusations, has been a prominent figure in Mokama’s political landscape for years. His past includes a conviction in 2020 related to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle and other weapons from his ancestral home, resulting in his disqualification from the assembly.

However, he was acquitted of these charges in August 2024. His wife, a former MLA, recently shifted her political allegiance from the RJD to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), further complicating the political dynamics of the region.

The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) released the results for the 70th Preliminary Examination on January 23, 2025. Candidates can view their results on the official BPSC website, bpsc.bih.nic.in. The results include those for the Combined Competitive Examination (CCE), Finance Administrative Officer, and Child Development Project Officer positions.

This year’s examination covered a wide range of posts, including those under the Combined Competitive Examination (CCE), Finance Administrative Officer (FAO), and Child Development Project Officer (CDPO). The release of these results marks a significant step forward for thousands of candidates pursuing careers in public service within Bihar.

The BPSC 70th Preliminary Examination, conducted on December 13th and January 4th, 2025, witnessed a massive turnout of 328,990 candidates. This substantial number underscores the immense competition and the high stakes involved in securing a government position in Bihar. The results, however, reveal a more selective outcome.

A total of 21,581 candidates successfully cleared the preliminary round for the CCE, demonstrating their competence and readiness to progress to the subsequent stages of the recruitment process. For the specialized roles of FAO and CDPO, a considerably smaller, yet still significant number of candidates qualified. 61 individuals successfully passed the preliminary examination for FAO positions, while 144 candidates qualified for CDPO posts.

The BPSC has also released the cutoff marks for the CCE, providing candidates with valuable insight into the performance benchmarks. The cut-off scores vary across different categories, reflecting the commission’s commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity. 

Cut-off Marks:

• Unreserved: 91
• Unreserved Female: 81
• EWS: 83
• EWS Female: 73
• SC: 70
• SC Female: 55
• ST/ST Female: 65

How to Check Your Results:

1. Go to bpsc.bih.nic.in.
2. Locate and click the “BPSC 70th Prelims Result 2024” link.
3. A PDF containing the results will open. Download and save a copy for your records.

Examination Results: The Bihar prelims exam, held on December 13th and January 4th, 2025, saw 328,990 candidates. The following number passed:

• Combined Competitive Examination: 21,581
• Finance Administrative Officer: 61
• Child Development Project Officer: 144

The Central government on Saturday said that over 37,01,362 houses, under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), have been allocated to Bihar state since 2016.

According to the Ministry of Rural Development, headed by MoS Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, the state of Bihar has shown considerable improvement under PMAY-G. In Bihar, since the inception of the scheme on April 1, 2016, the central government has sanctioned 37,01,362 houses. Out of these, 36,58,471 are already constructed, standing at 99% completion.

This information was provided in the Rajya Sabha in response to a question posed by BJP MP Bhim Singh. The maximum number of houses sanctioned in Darbhanga district was 2.15 lakh, out of which 2.13 lakh were completed. On the other end, Sheikhpura district had the lowest number of sanctioned houses, with 21,348 sanctioned and 21,108 constructed.

These statistics provide insight into the extensive coverage and construction efforts carried out by PMAY-G in rural areas of Bihar. PMAY-G aims to achieve the goal of “Housing for All” in rural areas by 2024, constructing 2.95 crore proper houses with basic facilities.

Funds under the scheme are allocated to states based on proposals submitted by them, considering the needs of the beneficiaries, available unspent balances, and program guidelines. Beneficiaries are identified under PMAY-G using SECC 2011, applying housing deprivation parameters and exclusion criteria.

Gram Sabha meetings analyze and confirm the system-generated priority list of households, establishing a Permanent Wait List. Additionally, the Awaas+ survey conducted from January 2018 to March 2019 identified eligible households that missed out on the SECC 2011 list. These households have also undergone Gram Sabha verification and an appellate process to ensure the beneficiary list is complete.

The progress in Bihar has been a landmark in demonstrating the government’s commitment to achieving the objectives of PMAY-G, providing proper, secure, and adequate housing to rural households. The high rate of house completion reflects the effective implementation and monitoring of the scheme, bringing it closer to achieving the goal of “Housing for All.”