Mystery shrouds timber merchant?s disappearance

MYSTERY SHROUDS the disappearance of general secretary of Cricket Association Lucknow (CAL) Khaliq Mukhtar Khan, who is also owner of UP Timber Stores. The family has so far not received any ransom call. The question haunting the police is whether it is the handiwork of eastern UP mafiosi or cash-starved Naxalites active in Poorvanchal. Heading CAL, he was also embroiled in ?cricket rivalry? in Lucknow. The sequence of event, however, amply indicate that operation has been executed in a planned way.

MYSTERY SHROUDS the disappearance of general secretary of Cricket Association Lucknow (CAL) Khaliq Mukhtar Khan, who is also owner of UP Timber Stores. The family has so far not received any ransom call. The question haunting the police is whether it is the handiwork of eastern UP mafiosi or cash-starved Naxalites active in Poorvanchal. Heading CAL, he was also embroiled in “cricket rivalry” in Lucknow. The sequence of event, however, amply indicate that operation has been executed in a planned way.

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Khan, who was on way to Sonebhadra on a business trip, had boarded Kashi-Vishawanath Express on December 28 night for Varanasi and thereafter the family members lost contact with him. Bazarkhala police, which registered an FIR on December 31, are groping in dark. After boarding the train at Charbagh, Khan rang up his son Mishel Ahmad Khan. Also, his ticket was checked in the train.

After coming into contact with two persons Ashish Ranjan and Shashkant Tripathi, who had introduced themselves as Sonebhadra-based NTPC officials on December 18, Khan decided to visit Sonebhadra to submit a tender for sale of 300 flush doors. They had asked Khan to visit NTPC for clearance of quotation and other paper formalities.

Inquiries, however, reveal that the duo is not from NTPC. Their mobiles (9935351157 and 9935181347) are “unreachable”. Their addresses in Sonebhadra are also fake. Two years ago Khan had reportedly received a call for ransom. The callers had then threatened him with dire consequences.

Khan had also talked to somebody from his mobile (9335919867) on December 21 from Gomti Nagar stadium about his Sonebhadra visit.