City has turned into a den of Purvanchal criminals

Meanwhile the city which has already hogged headlines for terrorist and ISI activities has also become the grazing ground for criminals of Purvanchal. What is causing concern in some police circles is the fact that none of the police officers who had deep knowledge about Purvanchal gangs are left in the district. They have all been posted out.

Meanwhile the city which has already hogged headlines for terrorist and ISI activities has also become the grazing ground for criminals of Purvanchal.

What is causing concern in some police circles is the fact that none of the police officers who had deep knowledge about Purvanchal gangs are left in the district. They have all been posted out.

Looking at the working style of some senior officers, a handful of remaining cops, have distanced themselves from the mainstream police. They have got themselves posted at insignificant posts.

For, they are not the ones who would agree to pay 'hafta' or 'mahawari' to their bosses under any circumstances.

Ask any cop about the business stakes of a Purvanchal gang in this city. He will give you a blank look. For, he neither knows about their hideouts, nor about the places where they move around, chat and indulge in other activities.

While the brutal killing of head constable Ashok Pandey by a member of Purvanchal gang in Civil Lines a few days ago is the latest example, the story of criminals from eastern part of the State making inroads into this city is also not new. It began with the sensational murder of Jawahar Yadav alias Pandit in 1994 and has not ended till date.

The only difference being that these gangs had made no major strikes in the city after the murder of Pandit.

But they had been coming on and off and establishing their business empire under some cover.

All the sharp shooters in Jawahar Pandit's killing in which an AK 47 was used were from Varanasi.

In the latest incident Babloo Misra's gang from Varanasi was also carrying an AK 47 as confessed by Pradeep Tripathi, a pradhan from Karchana area, who is now in the police net.

Then the entire team of criminals involved in the kidnapping of Dr Kartikey Sharma was also from Varanasi. They were led by Sujeet Singh 'Belwa' from Varanasi.

Criminals from Jaunpur and Azamgarh had been camping since long in the city before they bumped off Sant Gyaneshwar on the outskirts of the city in the beginning of the year.

In all nine persons including Sant Gyaneshwar were riddled with the bullets of AK 47 and other automatic weapons.

The murderous attack on Ganesh Yadav in Jhusi in which two innocents were killed was also the handiwork of criminals from Azamgarh.

Criminals of a particular caste from Azamgarh are getting shelter at the hideout of a ruling party MLA in Jhusi area these days. But most of the cops who are busy making money don't have the guts to act for the fear of being shunted out, said a police officer.