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New twist to Ansari issue

Complainant denies implicating the controversial MLA in FIR

— Photo: Subir Roy

UP IN ARMS: BJP workers demonstrating in Lucknow on Friday demanding arrest of Mukhtar Ansari.

Mau/Lucknow: On the eve of Governor T V Rajeshwar's visit to the riot-hit Mau town, the man who had filed the FIR against controversial independent MLA Mukhtar Ansari on Friday denied he had done so and accused the district authorities of implicating the legislator.

Jitendra Yadav, on whose complaint the police had lodged the FIR against the MLA under section 302 of the IPC for instigating communal riots, met Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav along with Samajwadi Party MP and Mr. Ansari's elder brother Afzal, to apprise him of the ``conspiracy''.

He gave a written statement to the Chief Minister saying the police had inserted Mr. Ansari's name in the FIR and that he had only named Hazi Vakil Shimlawale in the murder of his brother Ram Pratap on October 14.

Jitendra claimed that Mr. Ansari was not present at the time of the murder and that he had not named him in the FIR.

Meanwhile, SP leaders Afzal Ansari and legislator from Allahabad (West) Mohd Ashraf came out in open, supporting the accused MLA. The situation in Mau was limping back to normal and the district authorities had geared up for the proposed visit of the Governor for an on-the spot review of the affected areas.

A report of minor incident of arson also came from Aurangabad area of Mau but Principal Secretary (Home) Alok Sinha denied it. ``The situation was normal in Mau and the curfew was relaxed only for women and children this afternoon,'' he said.

The proposed visit by the Governor to riot-scarred Mau had put the district administration in a quandary, which is busy dealing with the aftermath of the riots that continued for four days beginning October 13.

Train services -- snapped since October 14 -- resumed last evening. The proposed visit of National Commission for Minorities (NCM) team to Mau on Thursday was put off on the request of the State Government.

Meanwhile, BJP workers sat on a dharna in Lucknow demanding Mr. Ansari's immediate arrest. -- UNI

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New twist to Ansari issue

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