He who spelt terror in region trapped

HE WAS another name of terror in Gazipur-Varanasi belt. He is proud to be called a mafia and is actively associated with the ruling Samajwadi Party. However, he has now landed in police lock-up far away from his area, Rae Bareli, with the Gangster Act slapped on him. Bhai Meraj, as he is called, moves in three Tata Safari vehicles of similar colour and number with over a dozen gun- wielding youth escorting him. He was never questioned as he was associated with the ruling party.

HE WAS another name of terror in Gazipur-Varanasi belt. He is proud to be called a mafia and is actively associated with the ruling Samajwadi Party.

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However, he has now landed in police lock-up far away from his area, Rae Bareli, with the Gangster Act slapped on him.

Bhai Meraj, as he is called, moves in three Tata Safari vehicles of similar colour and number with over a dozen gun- wielding youth escorting him. He was never questioned as he was associated with the ruling party.

However, the arrest of this mafia don in Rae Bareli on Thursday evening must have brought cheer on the faces of those who have been hit hard due his criminal activities in Ghazipur-Varanasi belt.

“ This fellow who was arrested with a group of some gun- wielding supporters is proud to be called a mafia”, SSP Rae Bareli VD Paulson told Hindustan Times on phone, adding he even accepted working for a mafia don Munna Bajrangi. He said his other supporters under arrest belonged to Ghazipur and the police in Ghazipur had been informed about the arrests.

“ Since he has accepted that he was a mafia and worked for dreaded criminal and mafia don Munna Bajrangi, he along with his other men were booked under different provisions of the IPC—mainly Gangster Act”, the SSP added.

There are reports that all the vehicles seized had Samajwadi Party’s flag fluttering on them. During the last by-polls for Varanasi North seat, he manipulated votes in favour of SP candidate Rabia Begum.

“ We are investigating the antecedents of four others hailing from Ghazipur and Meraj in Rae Bareli”, SP Ghazipur N Ravindran said. The five arrested with weapons are Iqbal, son of Ibrar Hassan, Mohd Ali, son of Ismat Allah, Tribhuvan Yadav, son of Rama Yadav and Pervez, son of Abdul Hai besides Meraj.

Meraj was earlier associated with Mayawati’s BSP but switched sides during the last Parliamentry polls and joined Samajwadi Party at an election rally on Varanasi -Bhadohi border in the presence of SP general secretary Amar Singh.

SP candidate Anjana Prakash and Virender Singh, minister in Mulayam Government were also present.

It may be mentioned that Meraj reached the venue with atleast 20 vehicles—most of them carrying gun-wielding youths, mostly criminals.