Reconsider freeing gangster-turned-politician Anand Mohan Singh: G Krishnaiah's widow to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

HYDERABAD: As the convict in the killing of Dalit IAS officer G Krishnaiah walked free from Saharsa jail in Bihar on Thursday, his widow T Uma Devi urged Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar to rethink his decision to relax the rules that facilitated gangster-turned-politician Anand Mohan Singh to get remission.
Krishnaiah, who was the then collector of Gopalgunj district in Bihar, was killed by a mob on December 5, 1994 evening in Muzzafarpur.Anand Mohan, who led the 5,000-strong mob, was given death sentence for the murder along with six others, which was later commuted to life sentence by the Patna high court. Krishnaiah, who was born in a landless Dalit family in Mahabubnagar, was just 37 when he was lynched. Krishnaiah was an IAS officer of 1985 batch allotted to Bihar.
'Caste played role in Anand's release
It appears that the Bihar CM got Anand Mohan released with the sole motive of reaping political benefits. From whatever little I know, caste plays a big role in Bihar and releasing the killer of my husband can be understood as getting support of his caste people," Uma told reporters here.
Recalling the trauma, she said Krishnaiah left home early that fateful day 29 years ago as he had to attend a meeting. "He got up at 4 am and was on his morning walk. I asked him why he wanted to walk when the weather was chilly. Krishnaiah said at least he was walking with a sweater which kept him warm," said Uma. It was their last conversation.
Uma said the IAS Officers' Association had always been supportive. "I am looking forward to their support even at this juncture. They are all concerned that an IAS officer's killer has been let off," she said.
Meanwhile, civil servants are upset that Krishnaiah's killer was set free. "Sometimes one wonders if being a civil servant is worth it. I request the Supreme Court and Chief Justice of India to intervene," IAS officer Smita Sabharwal tweeted. Sabharwal, who is secretary in Telangana CMO, expressed her solidarity with Krishnaiah's family.
Reacting strongly, the Indian Civil and Administrative Service (Central Association), Delhi, said: "The Central IAS Association expresses its deep dismay at the decision of the state government of Bihar to release the convicts."
The Andhra Pradesh IAS Officers' Association has also urged the Bihar government to reconsider its decision. "Such an action of the government will have an adverse effect on the morale of not only IAS officers but also other civil servants," the association said.