BJP MLA murder accused to be transferred from Ghazipur jail

Ghazipur, Apr 27 (UNI) Ahead of the phase VI Uttar Pradesh Assembly poll on May 3, the Election Commission (EC) has ordered immediate transfer of the three accused in BJP MLA Krishnanad Rai murder case from the Ghazipur jail.

As per the EC directive last night, ruling Samajwadi Party MP Afzal Ansari, his brother and controversial Independent MLA Mukhtar Ansari and their brother-in-law Ejaj-ul-Haq would be transferred to Hamirpur district jail, district jailor P N Tiwari said.

Former MP Manoj Sinha had yesterday requested CEC N Gopalaswamy, who was in Varanasi, to order transfer of the jailbirds, who are likely to influence the poll in the sixth and penultimate phase polling to 57 Assembly seats.

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

Later, an FIR was lodged against 10 persons, including Mukhtar, Afzal and eastern UP gangster Munna Bajrangi. Afzal had surrendered in the court on December 8, 2005. Later, Mukhtar and Ejaj-ul-haq had also surrendered.

On the petition of Rai's widow Alka, the Allahabad High Court had ordered CBI to investigate the case.

UNI