2 suspects detained from Gyanwapi-Kashi Vishwanath complex

Varanasi, June 10 (UNI) Admitting that Varanasi continued to figure prominently on the hit list of terror outfits, police today revealed that two suspected youth had been caught from the highly sensitive Gyanwapi-Kashi Vishwanath complex here recently.

SSP Ashutosh Pandey told newspersons here this evening that two youth had recently been detained owing to their suspicious movement on the complex.

After thorough interrogation followed by proper verification of their details, the two had been set free, but an eye was still being kept on their movements, he added.

Mr Pandey said the detention was a result of stepped up checking at the complex since the last ten days.

''Varanasi, being a religious and communally sensitive city, the cops have always to be on their toes, especially at religious places like Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanwapi complex and the blast hit Sankatmochan temple,'' the SSP said.

Mr Pandey said a Special Operation Group (SOG) of district police headed by an inspector has been constituted to check crimes, especially those committed by mafioso.

The SOG will have two teams, one to put a check on mafia activities and the other to control other crimes.

A list of criminals in police records for last 15 years is also being drawn to ascertain their status quo and the magnitude of police action against them till date.

''We are listing 6,000 criminals including contract killers and extortionists, especially those belonging to active gangs like those of Munna Bajarangi, Babu Yadav, Vineet Singh and Kripa gang,'' he added.

Mr Pandey also informed a contract killer and extortionist belonging to Babu Yadav gang was gunned down in an encounter in the Kotwali area early today.

He said on tip off, Nehru alias Neur, carrying a reward of Rs 5,000 on his head was gunned down in the Bagwabir area. An aide of the criminal, however, managed to escape.

Two countrymade revolvers and a motor cycle was recovered from the spot.

The slain criminal, among other crimes was wanted in connection with the May 17 last killing of a trader in the Katuapura area of the city, Mr Pandey added.

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