BJP MLA murder: Ansari brothers fail to appear before court

Ghazipur, UP, Apr 26 (UNI) Ruling Samajwadi Party MP Afzal Ansari and his younger brother, don-turned-Independent MLA from Mau Mukhtar Ansari today failed to appear before the court here for hearing in the assassination case of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai.

The Ansari brothers are prime accused in the murder case.

The court was informed of their indisposition. However, Ansari's brother-in-law Ejaj, another accused, appeared before the court.

Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Pramod Kumar extended their judicial custody by nine days and fixed May 5 for next hearing.

Rai, MLA from Mohammadabad assembly constituency in Ghazipur district, and his seven supporters were shot dead in broad daylight in Ghazipur on November 29 last year.

They were ambushed near the Ballia-Ghazipur border by several motorcycle-borne miscreants armed with sophisticated weapons.

Later, an FIR was lodged against 10 persons including Mukhtar, Afzal and notorious east UP gangster Munna Bajrangi in connection with the killing.

Afzal surrendered in the court on December 8 last. Both the Ansari brothers and Ejaz are lodged in Ghazipur jail.

Mukhtar is also accused in last year's Mau communal riots.

UNI XC/VS RP PC1934