The special task force of the UP Police arrested history-sheeter and active member of slain mafiosi-politician Atiq Ahmed’s gang, Mohd Javed aka Pappu Ganjia, from Ajmer, on Monday. Ganjia was carrying a reward of ₹50,000 on his arrest and had been evading the police for long.
DSP Navendu Kumar said the STF team of Gautambuddh Nagar and Prayagraj received inputs that Ganjia was hiding in Ajmer. Acting on the tip-off, the STF team of Gautambuddh Nagar under sub-inspector Akshay PK Tyagi and sub-Inspector Vinay Tiwari of STF Prayagraj carried out raids at hotel Bag-e-Rehmat in Phul Wali Gali on Monday morning and arrested Ganjia.
Questioning Ganjia, 51, revealed that he was a Class 8 dropout. In 1989, his cousin, Mehbub Ali, was allegedly killed by Gulab Mahra in a dispute over a contract. Ganjia murdered Gulab Mahra with his aides to avenge the killing of his cousin and was sent to jail. Later, he formed a gang with his aides Mahku Pasi, Chhamman, Tajuddin aka Taju, Mansoor Ahmad and created a reign of terror in Naini and adjoining areas.
His aides Tajuddin and Mahku Pasi were killed in an encounter with police some years later. In 2001, Ganjia murdered Gulab Mahra’s grandson, Anand Mahra after he assaulted Ganjia’s brother. He then started intervening in disputed properties, illegal mining, extortion and other serious offences. He soon developed close relations with IS-227 gang leader Atiq Ahmed and started working with him. In 2022, one Vishal Yadav of Naini lodged an FIR against Pappu Ganjia at Naini police station for demanding extortion.
{{/usCountry}}His aides Tajuddin and Mahku Pasi were killed in an encounter with police some years later. In 2001, Ganjia murdered Gulab Mahra’s grandson, Anand Mahra after he assaulted Ganjia’s brother. He then started intervening in disputed properties, illegal mining, extortion and other serious offences. He soon developed close relations with IS-227 gang leader Atiq Ahmed and started working with him. In 2022, one Vishal Yadav of Naini lodged an FIR against Pappu Ganjia at Naini police station for demanding extortion.
{{/usCountry}}However, Ganjia escaped before he could be arrested. Police declared him absconding after all efforts to trace him failed. A reward of ₹25,000 was declared on him which was increased to ₹50,000 recently.
Ganjia has 40 criminal cases lodged against him at Naini, Kotwali and Ghoorpur police stations for murder, attempt to murder, extortion, Arms Act, land grabbing, issuing threats, 7 CLA Act, Goonda Act and other serious sections of IPC.
In 2021, a PDA team demolished Pappu’s farmhouse in Ganjia area as it was built without approval by authorities concerned.