Over 100 armed cops leave for Punjab to bring don back
LUCKNOW/BANDA: A contingent of around 100 policemen, equipped with sophisticated weapons, left from Banda in 20 vehicles to bring back BSP MLA and mafiosi Mukhtar Ansari from Punjab on Monday.
Ansari would be brought in an anti-riot vehicle Vajra under supervision of medical team from Ropar jail in Punjab. He would be lodged in Banda jail where CCTV cameras were being installed and repaired.
“Mukhtar Ansari is currently lodged in Ropar jail in Punjab.
The Uttar Pradesh government approached the Supreme Court which ordered the transfer of Ansari from Punjab to UP. In line with Supreme Court’s order, Ansari will be brought to his home state in tight security and will be lodged in a jail here,” said Prashant Kumar, additional director general of police (ADG) law and order, Uttar Pradesh.
Ansari faces trial in several cases in the state, officials said.
IG Chitrakoot range K Satyanarayana, who sent the team this morning, said the shifting would take place amid tight security arrangements.
ADG Kumar stated, “Recently in Barabanki, he has been named in a case. Ansari committed heinous crimes in Purvanchal in the past, including the killing of police personnel.”
Punjab’s home department in a letter had asked the Uttar Pradesh government to take custody of Ansari from the Ropar jail on or before April 8.
It had written to the Uttar Pradesh additional chief secretary (home) following a March 26 Supreme Court order that had directed the Punjab government to transfer the BSP’s Mau MLA to UP’s Banda jail in two weeks from the Ropar prison, where he has been since January 2019 in connection with an extortion case.
Acting superintendent of the Banda district jail Pramod
Tiwari said that all arrangements have been made in Barrack Number-15 to lodge Ansari. No other prisoner can reach this barrack, said Tiwari.
“Three prison guards will be deployed inside the barrack,” he said.
In the letter, the Punjab Home Department had asked the Uttar Pradesh additional chief secretary (Home) for suitable arrangements to be made for Ansari’s transfer.
It also said that Ansari suffered from certain medical conditions and the same may be kept in mind while making arrangements for his transfer.