The outrage perpetrated by Anant Singh MLA is true to Bihar’s stereotype, and its grim reality. On Thursday in Patna the flamboyant don-turned-MLA and his henchmen attacked journalists, held them hostage. This was his response to questions about his alleged involvement in the case of the rape and murder of a young girl recently in the state. But this story has been given a welcome twist: Singh and his associates were immediately taken into judicial custody. The Nitish government’s prompt action reinforces a signal Bihar has been desperately waiting for. It says that the circle of crime and impunity can be broken. That the parallel administration run by the baahubali will not go unchallenged by the state. And, that political considerations will not be allowed to stand in the way of the law taking its course. Significantly, Singh is a legislator of the ruling party, JD(U).

The importance of the government moving on the law and order front — and being seen to do so — cannot be underestimated in Bihar. This is a state in which strongmen with political clout have carved out independent fiefs. Anant Singh was apparently the ‘chhote sarkar’ of Mokama, his writ ran supreme barely 100 km from the seat of government in Patna. His story is typical in yet another way. Singh was patronised by the RJD before shifting over to the JD(U) and getting elected to the assembly on the party’s ticket in 2005. All parties have been complicit in the phenomenon of the baahubali in Bihar.

But two years into his tenure, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar cannot depend upon some signals or a few good decisions alone. Admittedly, the symbolism of Anant Singh’s arrest — like the jailing of another bahubali MLA of the JD(U), Sunil Pandey earlier — is powerful. But more needs to be done beyond taking some handpicked cases to their lawful conclusion. Even in the present case, Nitish Kumar must account for why no disciplinary action has been taken against Anant Singh by the JD(U), why he still remains a member of the ruling party.