Jailed ‘bahubalis’ lose home advantage under Yogi regime

LUCKNOW: Ninety-three ‘bahubalis’ (dons) have been shifted from one jail to another in the 43 days of the Yogi regime in UP in a bid to make their crime machinery ineffective.

The likes of Mukhtar Ansari, Munna Bajrangi, Atiq Ahmed, Shekhar Tiwari, Maulana Anwarul Haq, Mukim alias Kala, Udaibhan Singh alias doctor, Titu alias Kiranpal, Rocky alias Kaki and Alam Singh are among those shifted to far- flung jails from prisons in their home districts.

Though the dons were behind bars, their gangs let loose a reign of terror, committing murders, kidnapping, dacoity and extortion with ease. A ‘bahubali’s call from jail was enough to terrorise businessmen, contractors and even government officers. Those who refused to follow their diktats were threatened, attacked or killed. In his first law and order review meeting held on March 30, the CM propelled the police into action. Expressing concern over the ‘bahubalis’ running murder, kidnapping and extortion rackets from behind bars, he directed officers to shift them to far-flung jails.

Mukhtar Ansari was shifted from Lucknow jail to Banda, Atiq Ahmed from Naini central jail to Deoria, Munna Bajrangi from Jhansi jail to Pilibhit and Shekhar Tiwari from Barabanki to Maharajganj jail. Sources said the jail superintendents of Banda, Pilibhit and Deoria were nervous when they received the orders for shifting of the dons. The senior jail officers instilled confidence in them. They were told not to buckle under the pressure but to deal strictly with the ‘bahubalis’.

To put pressure on the jail officers of Pilibhit, Munna Bajrangi, a dreaded contract killer, allegedly told them that he had detail of their family, even the schools and colleges where their children studied. But the jail officials were told to follow Yogi Adityanath’s order and not be apprehensive. Munna Bajrangi is cooling his heels in Pilibhit jail.

Talking to HT, additional director general of police (prison) GL Meena said, “Though behind bars, a majority of the criminals had established their crime network in the area. The jail administration received information that the gang members used to meet in jail and plan incidents of crime from there. The jail officers were under pressure due to the influence of the mafiosi. During surprise raids, mobile phones and SIM cards were recovered from the cells of criminals.”

The Special Task Force (STF) and Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) monitored the activities of the jailed dons and alerted the jail administration about their nefarious activities. Some of the jail officers were also involved in the nexus and the jail administration suspended the superintendents of Mainpuri and Fatehgarh jails, Meena said. A BJP leader said, “Yogi is fulfilling promise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promise made at a public meeting in Mau, the home turf of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari on February 27. Modi had alleged that jails in UP were virtually converted into a palace for criminals where they enjoyed all facilities and luxury. The gangsters can be seen going to jail with a smile and have photo sessions. Being in jail, they also get legal protection from the consequences of the crime committed by their gang.”

Now, Yogi Adityanath is regularly monitoring the action taken by the jail administration against the jailed Mafiosi.