Don Babloo Srivastava fears life threat from UP minister

Lucknow, Oct 27 (UNI) A day after mafia don Om Prakash Srivastava alias Babloo Srivastava expressed threat to his life, he today named two legislators -- supporting the Uttar Pradesh government -- and a cabinet ranked minister behind the ''conspiracy'' to eliminate him.

Talking to mediaperson after appearing in a court here, Babloo said controversial independent MLA Mukhtar Ansari and Samajwadi Party legislator Amarmani Tripathi in nexus with a cabinet minister, hailing from an adjoining district of the state capital, have hatched a conspiracy to eliminate him in the Lucknw jail.

Mentioning the name of mafioso Abhay Singh and Munna Bajrangi, ''who have been entrusted by the trio to eliminate him,'' the don -- presently lodged in the Bareilly central jail -- said deadly arms including an AK-47 rifle had been acquired in the jail.

Mukhtar and Tripathi are both lodged in different jails. While, Mukhtar is lodged in Ghazipur district jail in connection with the BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai murder case, Tripathi is cooling his heels in Lucknow jail in the Madhumita Shukla murder case.

However, Mukhtar is presently lodged in Lucknow jail to attend the UP assembly session.

Demanding his return to Singapore following violation of the extradition treaty, Babloo alleged the Indian government had failed to meet the condition of the extradition treaty by not providing him adequate security and stretching out the court cases against him.

In a letter to the UP government yesterday -- a copy of which was also sent to the Singapore Embassy, New Delhi, the don urged adequate security to him -- both while inside Lucknow Jail and when travelling from Central Jail, Bareilly to Lucknow.

In the three-page letter, written by his counsel Harjot Singh, Babloo has apprehended he might be elimated by ISI agents or Dawood's men.

''I am hardcore nationalist and the ISI wants to eliminate me to settle scores,'' the don claimed in the letter.

Further, he said because of his ''nationalist approach'' and determination to assist intelligence sources to finish anti-national forces in the country, both Dawood and the ISI want to eliminate him through the assistance of some 'local influential' group.

Claiming the centre had given undertaking in Singapore court during extradition hearing that his life would be secure, Babloo maintained his security had been lowered.

Babloo was extradited from Singapore in September 1995.

Making another plea, he said any attack on his life would disturb the ''public order'' and become a threat for the law and order situation of UP.

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