Big things were expected from Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh as he was one of the who few leaders in the Indian National Congress to have won on his own might and not rely on the Gandhi family. However, the farmers’ agitation unmasked the Captain and his government. Now, the Punjab government is discovering new lows every day as it seeks to protect history-sheeter and dreaded gangster Mukhtar Ansari against UP government taking his custody.
If one were to count Mukhtar Ansari’s crimes, one would comfortably spend the rest of his life just keeping records of the notorious criminal. Unfortunately, Ansari also happens to be a BSP MLA. However, since the advent of the Yogi Adityanath government, Ansari has suffered one setback after another.
Languishing in UP jail and being rightfully treated like a criminal that Mukhtar Ansari is as he helplessly watched the UP government destroy his illegal empire bit by bit, Ansari was transferred to Ropar jail in Punjab after the state police produced a production warrant in early 2019 in connection with an extortion case filed in Mohali.
Since then, multiple efforts by the UP government to bring back Ansari have been thwarted by the Punjab government. Now, the Supreme Court has stepped in after the UP government filed a plea seeking his custody in connection with the 38 cases of heinous crimes pending against him in the state and has sought a reply from the Punjab government. The bench has given a time of two weeks to the Punjab government and Ansari to respond on the matter.
Reportedly, the jail authorities in Punjab are refusing to hand over the mafia don to UP authorities on the pretext of health issues, thereby allowing Mukhtar Ansari to escape appearances in courts in UP where he is facing murder charges.“We go by the recommendations of medical officers. Last year, he underwent a medical examination at PGI. He is suffering from back pain and high sugar levels. Last month, a three-member panel of doctors, headed by Ropar civil surgeon, conducted a medical examination and advised Ansari bed rest for three months. The panel also advised him against long travel. He is under bed rest in jail barrack,” said Punjab Additional Director General of Police (Prisons) PK Sinha.
Slamming the Amarinder Singh government, BJP national General Secretary Tarun Chugh claimed that by protecting Mukhtar Ansari who is an accused of murder, the government was soaking its hands in blood.
The Yogi Adityanath government is destroying Ansari’s illegal empire at a menacing pace as alleged illegal properties worth crores of rupees related to the mafia don in Lucknow, Mau and Ghazipur have been demolished by the state agencies. Earlier in July, the Ghazipur district administration had demolished a godown, built illegally on public land.
The godown was built in place of a pond by M/s Vikas Construction in which Ansari’s wife – Afsa Begum and his brother-in-law, Aatif Raja besides three others – Zakir Hussain, Ravindra Narayan Singh and Anwar Shahzada are partners, said Ghazipur DM OP Arya.
The godown had been rented out by the gang to the Food Corporation of India. The administration is also said to be probing into irregularities involving Gajal Hotel in Mahubagh locality of Ghazipur, with both the properties registered under the name of Mukhtar Ansari’s wife.
The police also seized properties worth Rs 58.91 lakh of Mukhtar Ansari’s shooter Brijesh Sonkar and arrested seven accomplices of his. Also, properties worth Rs. 39.80 crore has been freed from illegal possession of Ansari’s relatives and 33 weapons have been deposited in different jails so far after their licenses had been suspended.
Superintendent of Police Ghazipur OP Singh informed, “An intense operation is also ongoing against over 20 mafia gangs and their aides in Ghazipur. It is being conducted against criminals, land mafia, mining mafia here.”
In August, an illegal slaughterhouse of a close aide of Mukhtar Ansari was also demolished by the Mau district administration with the UP Police issuing a non-bailable warrant against Ansari’s wife Afsa Ansari and her brothers Sharjeel Raza and Anwar Shahzad for allegedly occupying a sealed property illegally in September.
Questions must be asked as to what is the motivation behind the Amarinder Singh government deciding to shield a notorious gangster like Mukhtar Ansari. The law of the land must prevail and Ansari should be handed over to the UP administration and face justice.