In the annals of Rajasthan’s criminal history, Anandpal Singh is a name which strikes fear, anger and at times reverence.
Right from the time when he unsuccessfully contested panchayat elections in 2000 to the way he murdered two rival gang members inside the Bikaner jail in 2014.
The 44-year-old Singh held a B. Ed degree and had serious charges against him such as murder and extortion.
A native of Nagaur district, Anandpal as the leader of the Shekhawati gang, was dreaded across Rajasthan.
There are several factors behind the rise of Anandpal and his gang with revenge, caste, political patronage and extortion being the most important ones. He was involved in over two dozen cases in Didwana, Jaipur, Sikar, Sujangarh, Churu, Sanganer among others and was also the main accused in high-profile murder cases — Jivan Ram Godara murder case of Didwana (Nagaur) and Gopal Fogawat murder case of Sikar district.
“Anandpal had unsuccessfully contested panchayat elections. Following which he blamed his rivals and tried to show himself as a victim in his community of Rajputs. He gradually gained few followers and soon became a known troublemaker in the Shekhawati region,” a senior police official said.
In 2014, after his long-time associated Balbir Banuda was shot dead by a rival gang member inside the Bikaner jail, Anandpal brutally murdered Banuda’s assailants inside the jail premises.
{{/usCountry}}In 2014, after his long-time associated Balbir Banuda was shot dead by a rival gang member inside the Bikaner jail, Anandpal brutally murdered Banuda’s assailants inside the jail premises.
{{/usCountry}}But perhaps the single point that contributed to his aura was his escape from police custody in September 2015.