Ruling SP MP Afzal Ansari appears in MLA murder case hearing

Ghazipur, UP, Jan 18 (UNI) Ruling Samajwadi Party MP Afzal Ansari and prime accused in BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai murder case today appeared before the fast track court here for hearing.

Fast track court judge (I) Shailendra Nath Singh posted the case for next hearing to January 20.

However, other prime accused -- Afzal's younger brother and controversial independent MLA from Mau Mukhtar Ansari and his brother-in-law Ezaz-ul-haq Ansari -- could not appear for hearing.

While, Mukhtar was in Lucknow for the winter session of the state assembly, Ezaz was indisposed.

Presently, the trio are lodged in the Ghazipur district jail.

Rai, an MLA from Mohammadabad assembly constituency in Ghazipur district and his seven supporters were shot dead in broad daylight in Ghazipur on November 29, 2005.

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, 2005.

Another sharp-shooter Sanjeev Maheshwari alias Jeeva has also been arrested.

UNI