Just 1 tainted candidate in infamous Wasseypur

WASSEYPUR(Dhanbad): Wasseypur in Dhanbad constituency, made famous by Anurag Kashyap's vicious two-part tale of gore, has undergone a sea change over the years. People in this coal belt no longer resorts to gunfights and bloodshed to wield power or authority.
"Power struggles, gang war and coal pilfering used to be the order of the day at one point of time.However, it's no longer the same. We live here like brothers," imam of a local mosque, Jakir Hussain Saheb said.
Dhanbad SP Hemant Toppo vindicates the imam's claims. "I have not come across any violence here so far," said Toppo, who has joined the post three months back.
Wasseypur, home to two lakh people, will go to polls on April 24 and the residents of this small town wish to vote for a candidate with a clean image. Of the 31 candidates in the fray here, none, except JVM (P) candidate Samresh Singh, faces serious criminal charges.
"Times have changed, what they showed in the movie was highly exaggerated. We live peacefully here," said Babu Bhai Khan, a resident of the town.
The original Kamar Makhdumi Road, which was shown in the movie as a hub of criminal activities, is close to Babu Bhai Khan's palatial house. "The place has not witnessed any violence in the last few years," Khan said.
There is an underlying power struggle among the coal mafia in Dhanbad but gang war is largely unheard of. Dhanbad reported only 67 general murders in 2013 as against 204 in Ranchi. JVM (P) candidate Samresh Singh, accused of several murder cases, also washes his hands off the charges. "All cases against me are motivated. People here know how peaceful I am. They will elect me," Singh asserted.
Coal trader Ramadhir Singh, who was shown as a popular figure and a gang leader in Kashyap's flick, has opted out of elections.
During British rule, Dhanbad and Wasseypur were part of Bengal. The place was historically ruled by the Qureshis, who were butchers by profession. The non-Qureshis were scared of their brethren. But over the years, the situation here has changed for better, Arun Qureshi, a local trader said.
"I think the Khans and Qureshis share a strong bond. 10% of the population residing in this part of the constituency is Qureshi and 20% Khan," he added.
Congress candidate Ajay Kumar Dubey said Wasseypur is need of development. Crime quotient is no longer an issue here. BJP candidate P N Singh said: "People of Dhanbad and Wasseypur for that matter are peace loving and amiable."