M A I N   N E W S

Brother-in-law of MLA Ansari surrenders
Shahira Naim
Tribune News Service

Lucknow, December 1
Independent MLA Mukhtar Ansari’s brother-in-law, Ejaz-ul Haq Ansari (58), named as a sharpshooter in the FIR in the sensational killing of BJP legislator Krishnanand Rai and his associates, today surrendered in a Ghazipur court. He surrendered before the Ghazipur Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), who remanded him to 14-day judicial custody. He was later sent to jail.

Samajwadi Party MP from Ghazipur and Mukhtar’s elder brother Afzal Ansari, another of the 10 named in the FIR, is planning to surrender at Ghazipur in a day or two. Speaking to this reporter, he said “the Opposition wants to target me to hit at my leader Mulayam Singh Yadav. I would rather surrender than let them do that”. He has represented Ghazipur for five terms in the Vidhan Sabha.

Mukhtar Ansari is already lodged in jail for reportedly inciting the Mau riots.

STF sources informed that the help of Interpol may be sought to catch dangerous sharpshooters like Munna Bajrangi and Ataur Rahman mentioned in the FIR. The latter carries a reward of Rs 2.5 lakh on his head and is most likely in Nepal.

Meanwhile, high alert continued in Eastern UP in the wake of violent protests in different parts of the region. Angry supporters of the slain MLA burnt down a railway cabin at the Tajpur station and destroyed the Sahninda police station in Mohammadabad . Educational institutions in Ghazipur and Varanasi remained closed for the second consecutive day today.

BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai’s last rites were performed amidst stepped-up security at Varanasi last night. The entire top brass of the party, including state president Keshari Nath Tripathi, former Chief Ministers Kalyan Singh and Rajnath Singh, continued their dharna there and stepped up their demand for a CBI inquiry.

While seven persons including the MLA, died on the spot, another succumbed later to his injuries. The MLA was going to attend a “tilak” ceremony around 1500 hours on Tuesday near the Ballia-Ghazipur border when motor cycle-borne miscreants armed with sophisticated weapons attacked them.

In view of the tense situation in the eastern district, additional forces have been rushed to the area. Four PAC companies, two of RAF and one CRPF company, have been posted in Ghazipur alone. A team of special task force (STF) had reached Ghazipur to investigate the killing.