# Brij Behari Prasad

Brij Behari Prasad, also spelled Brij Bihari Prasad (died 13 June 1998) was an Indian politician. A member of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) (then Janata Dal), Prasad served as Minister for Science and Technology in the Government of Bihar. He was arrested for alleged involvement in corrupt admissions to technical institutes and was murdered on 13 June 1998 at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in Patna, where he was undergoing treatment . It was claimed that his death was in retribution for his involvement in assassination of gangster Chhottan Shukla and five other people, who were killed on 4 December 1994, while returning home from a campaign organised in context of 1995 Bihar Legislative Assembly elections. Shukla was a gangster from the Bhumihar community, whereas Prasad was a Bania. Supporters of Prasad were thought to be responsible for the killing of Shukla.

## Political career

Prasad served as science and technology minister in Rabri Devi's government and also as energy minister in Janata Dal government in Bihar. He was known for his muscleman image and was popular among OBCs in his constituency. A close aide of Lalu Prasad Yadav, the influence of Prasad was often used by the Janata Dal to change the voting behaviour in the areas of his influence. The use of money and muscle power was evident in those days and various political parties including the Indian National Congress relied upon criminal politicians to ensure victory. Prasad was allegedly involved in the assassination of Devendranath Dubey, a Samajwadi Party MLA and member of Motihari Lok Sabha constituency in 1996. The assassination preceded winning of Motihari constituency election by Prasad's Rama Devi. Dubey himself was a proclaimed absconder while Prasad was facing several criminal charges. The influence of Prasad was witnessed from east Champaran to Muzaffarpur district of Bihar. Author Ranbir Sammadar credits him for ending the crime empire of Devendra Dubey—the Indian National Congress leader who later shifted his allegiance to Samajwadi Party.
According to local media outlets of Bihar, Prasad ensured the victory of several backward caste candidates against the upper-caste strongmen who dominated their respective constituencies due to their influence and muscle power. These include Munna Shukla, who was defeated by Prasad's nominee Kedar Gupta and Raghunath Pandey who was defeated by Bijendra Chowdhary from Muzaffarpur constituency. The nominees of Prasad viz Basawan Bhagat, Maheswar Yadav and Ramvichar Rai also emerged victorious from their respective constituencies. The climax of his political influence was witnessed after his wife, Rama Devi defeated Radha Mohan Singh from Motihari.

## Assassination

Prasad was also known for his rivalry with Chhotan Shukla— a gangster and leader of Bihar People's Party of Anand Mohan Singh. Shukla was killed while he was returning from his election campaign by the goons, who were allegedly working for Prasad. Prasad was earlier arrested for his alleged involvement in BECEE scam, and was getting treatment in Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Science, Patna. While he was taking a stroll outside his ward surrounded by the commandos of Bihar military police, a man approached him for getting his favour in proper treatment of his relative. Prasad ordered one of his men to talk to the concerned Doctor to ensure proper remedy to him and moved towards a badly lit corner of parking space. While the commandos approached him towards the parking space, an ambassador car stopped near him and few unidentified gunners opened fire upon Prasad and his men. Three personnel were shot dead on the spot and other ran away except his personal bodyguard Lahmeshwar Shah who was also killed on the spot.