UP polls: Dacoit gangs enter MP following pressure

Fatehpur, Apr 21 (UNI) Outsmarting the strategies of the Uttar Praesh police, two notorious dacoit gangs sneaked into neighbouring Madhya Pradesh after having been active during the UP poll campaign in favour of various candidates.

''Dreaded dacoit kingpin Shiv Kumar, alias Dadua, and Ambika Patel, alias Thokia, have moved to the Madhya Pradesh border after Phase V campaign,'' admitted Inspector General of Allahabad Zone Amardutt Mishra while talking to UNI. The gangs have been a terror in Fatehpur district and adjoining areas covering 12 assembly constituencies.

Carrying a bounty of Rs 5 lakh on his head, Dadua has 189 cases registered against him in UP and MP. Thokia, carrying a reward of Rs 2.5 lakh on his head, has 78 cases against him.

The brother of Dadua, Bal Kumar, is contesting from Patti assembly seat of Pratapgarh district on Samajwadi Party ticket. The mother of Thokia, Piyariya Devi, is contesting from Naraini assembly seat of Banda district on Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) tickets.

However, the dacoits are not coming in public but using their messengers to campaign in favour of their candidates, the reports suggest.

A massive police build-up was ensured to put a check on the activities of these dacoits during the polls.

At least 36 people, who oppossed the dacoits' diktats in 2004 Lok Sabha election and 2006 Panchayat election, had lost their lives, according to official reports.

UNI