Testimony recorded in BJP MLA murder case

Ghazipur, UP, Feb 8 (UNI) The testimonies of three witnesses in the BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai murder case concluded in the fast track court here.

Fast track court (I) judge Shaileshwar Nath Singh has posted the case to February 13 for next hearing.

Testimonies of 68 witnesses are to be recorded in the high-profile case, of which eight have already concluded their versions.

One of the prime accused, Samajwadi Party MP Afzal Ansari appeared before the court for today's hearing.

Two other accused, don-turned-Independent Mau MLA Mukhtar Ansari and his brother-in-law Ejaz failed to appear due to indisposition.

Presently, the trio are lodged in Ghazipur district jail.

Meanwhile, government counsel Rajendra Sharma petitioned that the court summon a report from Bhanwarkil police station over the kind of security provided to the witnesses.

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

UNI