Mukhtar’s men face heat inaction against illegal trade

Varanasi: Jailed mafia don and MLA Mukhtar Ansari and his henchmen are facing the brunt of the police crackdown against organised crime and gangs in east UP.
ADG Varanasi zone Brij Bhushan told TOI on Sunday, “Not only in Mau and Ghazipur, action has been taken against the gang and aides of Mukhtar engaged in illegal trades with his backing in Varanasi, Jaunpur and Azamgarh districts as well in past few weeks.”
Mau police started targeting Mukhtar’s henchmen from early June. Mau cops booked 11 henchmen of Mukhtar under Gangster Act for extorting money. They also busted an illegal slaughter house and arrested five persons. Mukhtar’s three aides involved in illegal fish trade were also arrested with over 10 tonne of fish.
On July 1, cops had arrested Mukhtar’s close associate Sanjay Sagar of Sarva village for procuring two arms licences by mentioning fake date of birth in documents, said SP Mau Anurag Arya.
On July 3, notorious criminal Haji Mukhtar was also arrested with a country-made revolver and 55 cartridges. Haji Mukhtar was involved in cases of grabbing government land and dealing in disputed properties, Arya said.
Since May 31, five FIRs were lodged against 45 persons involved in illegal fish trade, mining and extortion. They were booked under Gangster Act and only three are absconding.
In the last one week, Varanasi administration and police broke the backbone of fish trade mafia flourishing in the district under Mukhtar’s patronage since past two decades. The gang led by Mohd Salim was involved in selling banned species of Thai Mangur and also extorted money from all traders in local market on the sale of fish per kg, said police. Similar action was initiated by Jaunpur police against fish trade mafia on Saturday.