Report names suspects in BJP MLA killing

Lucknow: After violent protests launched by the supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the police have registered a first information report (FIR) against the member of Parliament from the Samajwadi Party, Afzal Ansari, don-turned-MLA from Mau, Mukhtar Ansari, and a hard-core criminal, Munna Bajrangi, for the brutal killing of the MLA from the BJP, Krishna Nand Rai, and six others.

Another six have been named in the FIR lodged with the Ghazipur police by members of Rai's family.

Ezaz Ahamad, brother-in-law of Mukhtar Ansari, who has been named in the FIR in the killing, surrendered yesterday to a court in Jaunpur.

Afzal Ansari is the brother of Mukhtar Ansari who is in jail in connection with the recent communal violence in Mau. Afzal Ansari was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Ghazipur parliamentary constituency. Afzal has strongly denied his involvement in Rai's killing and said that his name was dragged in due to political reasons and conspiracy. Afzal said yesterday that he would surrender in the court today.

The police said that the names of Afzal Ansari, Mukhtar Ansari, Munna Bajrangi and six others figured in the report.

Munna Bajrangi has been carrying a reward of Rs200,000 (Dh16,000) on his head and was wanted by the police.

The Uttar Pradesh police have also sought the help of Interpol to find the killers.

Violence and arson continued in eastern districts of Uttar Pradesh for the third consecutive day yesterday. An irate mob set the railway signal cabin at Tejpur station on fire and a police motorcycle was torched in Mohammadbad police station in Ghazipur district. Colleges and other institutions in Varanasi and Ghazipur remained closed today, but shops remained open in Ghazipur and Varanasi.

Eastern districts of Uttar Pradesh were on high alert.

Three more legislators were shot dead in Uttar Pradesh. An MLA from the Samajwadi Party, Manzoor Ahamad, was shot dead while he was taking part in a dharna (sit in) in Lucknow. Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) Ajit Singh was shot dead in Unnao, 60 km from Lucknow in September 2004.