Mukhtar, 31 others acquitted in Mau communal riots case

Lucknow, Sep 15 (UNI) Controversial Independent MLA Mukhtar Ansari was today acquitted in the Mau communal riots case due to lack of evidence.

They were acquitted by a Mau sessions court after most of the victims turned hostile.

Sessions judge Dinesh Gupta said the accused were being discharged following want of evidence.

Ansari was accused in the murder of Ram Pratap Yadav during the October, 2005 Mau riots which continued for over 13 days, leaving scores of people dead.

The riots were ignited after the traditional 'Bharat Milap' programme of the Hindus was stoned by miscreants. While initially the riots were controlled by the local police, trouble re-erupted soon after and took an ugly turn.

Bharat Milap programme is held after Dussehra.

A private news channel had shown Mukhtar, an MLA from Mau, roaming in Mau during riots in an open Gypsy. But the legislator had claimed he was pacifying the mob. ''I had even helped an injured woman,'' he had asserted.

Incidentally, Mukhtar and his kin are also accused in the murder of BJP MLA Krishnand Rai. He had surrendered before a Ghazipur court and is currently behind bars.

CBI is probing the murder case in which three of witnesses have already died under mysterious circumstances.

UNI NAB VS RL DS1701