E-Paper
Trans-Yamuna area gang involved?
One of the gangs holed up in trans-Yamuna area is involved in the kidnapping of Neeraj Agrawal, a highway contractor, who was abducted for ransom last Saturday.
One of the gangs holed up in trans-Yamuna area is involved in the kidnapping of Neeraj Agrawal, a highway contractor, who was abducted for ransom last Saturday.
On their part cops may not be having any definite clue regarding the particular gang which has abducted Neeraj but they too are reportedly aware of the strong possibility of the involvement of one of the several criminal gangs enjoying the patronage of some mafia turned politicians active in this area.
However, despite knowing this fact they are not reportedly taking the kind of interest which is expected from them under such trying circumstances, alleged a source connected with the victim's family. The SSP is also busy in getting his transfer stalled and has not shown much interest. All he has done is to entrust the task of getting the case worked out to SP Trans-Yamuna, he alleged.
It may be mentioned that the gang involved in the gruesome killing of a police head constable Ashok Pandey in Civil Lines about two months ago had been camping in Naini. The gang members had gone into hiding after the incident in which one of their members was also killed in an encounter with the police.
If sources are correct, seeing the disinterest of cops the gang had come back to the Naini area where it enjoys the patronage of a mafia turned politician.
Besides this, there are a number of other criminals who find this area a safe haven.
Sources said, there were indications that the STF was preparing itself to take up this case earlier but with the kidnapping of the three-year-old son of a CEO in Noida it has been diverted to that place.
Though family members of Neeraj have denied receiving any call from the kidnappers but there were strong rumours that the calls had been made from four districts in a bid to confuse the police. On their part police too denies knowledge of any ransom demand made from the family members.
Sources said, there was an understanding between the police and the victim's family members not to divulge any ransom information to the media in the interest of the safety and well-being of the abducted person.
CO Civil Lines Rahul Srivastava, who is also monitoring the case, said, one of the teams sent to MP and some other neighbouring districts has come back without any clue and another team has been sent to some places in Bihar.
Meanwhile, a delegation of traders under the auspices of the Uttar Pradesh Udyog Vyapar Sangathan submitted a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav to the city magistrate demanding urgent action for tracing out Neeraj Agrawal.
They also demanded handing over the case to the Special Task Force (STF).
Expressing resentment over the spate of kidnappings in Allahabad and adjoining areas they have threatened to take to streets to protest against police inaction.
