Now, admin & police target Mukhtar’s armoury

Varanasi: Not only the economic empire, but even the armoury of the jailed mafia don- turned-MLA Mukhtar Ansari, build up by his family members and henchmen through valid licences over years, has come on the target of administration and police in his citadel spanning Ghazipur and Mau districts.
After making his 14 henchmen surrender their arms following cancellation of licences in past few months, the Ghazipur administration and police have intensified action in the last three-four days and suspended another 10 licences while seven are under investigation.
Notices have also been issued to the don’s wife and others for providing details of frequent sale and purchases of arms and ammunition on the licences issued in their names.
Providing details of the armoury maintained by Mukhtar to TOI on Wednesday, ADG Varanasi zone Brij Bhushan said, “Crackdown on organised crime is in progress against almost all the gangsters and their gangs in the zone.”
“Under the drive, stock of their arms and ammunition has also been taken. Ghazipur police has collected details of the arms licences procured by the family members as well as direct or indirect accomplices of Mukhtar,” Bhushan added.
“On the basis of the investigation, the Ghazipur police gave its report to the district administration, which initiated the process of cancelling the arms licences,” he added.
District magistrate Ghazipur Om Prakash Arya said, “Initially, 14 arms licences of persons associated with Mukhtar had been cancelled in the past few months while 10 licences have also been suspended after getting reports from police in the past three days. We are also examining six-seven more licences.”
As per police records, the licences suspended recently belong to Israil Ansari, Salim, Anwar Shehjad, Shah Alam, Rajesh Singh, Om Prakash Yadav and Rajnish Singh.
Bhushan said that seven relatives and henchmen of Mukhtar had procured multiple arms licences in their names, which have been cancelled and their arms have been confiscated.
As per the list of these seven, one Jamshed Raja possessed a double-barrel gun (DBBL), rifle and revolver, Anwar Shehjad kept a DBBL and rifle, Mansoor Ahmed was carrying pistol, rifle and single-barrel gun, Ebadurrehman possessed a rifle and DDBL, Sharjil Raja owned a revolver and rifle while Afroz Khan and Shaqil Khan were having rifle and DBBL gun, respectively.
The ADG said, “Going through the records of the past six months, action had been initiated in 41 arms licences issued in the names of relatives and henchmen of Mukhtar. Initially, the Mau administration had cancelled seven such licences.”
The name of a brother and former MLA Shibgatullah Ansari is also in the list of arms licence-holders, which are being examined by the Ghazipur officials.
DM Ghazipur said the wife and brothers of Mukhtar have also been issued notices to provide details of repeated purchase of arms and ammunition on the licences issued to them. He said that arms licences of Mukhtar’s personal assistant Jakir Hussain alias Vikky Ansari and his four associates had been suspended as they failed to provide details of cartridges.
SP Mau Anurag Arya said, “We are also trying to take Mukhtar on remand for interrogation in a case registered against him in January in an episode of issuance of arms licences to four persons including a criminal, who was gunned down in police encounter on fake residential address on his recommendation made on his letterhead.”
The jailed don’s henchmen are in the line of fire as in the bid to hit his economic empire being strengthened with their help, the Ghazipur officials removed their illegal possession on the land of the proposed airstrip at Andhau on Monday.
Earlier, Mau police had booked 11 henchmen of Mukhtar under Gangster Act for extorting money in the name of taxi stands and also busted an illegal slaughter house by arresting five, after which cash reward was announced on three others while three of his accomplices involved in illegal trade of fish were also held with over 10 tonnes of fish on Saturday.