Police action causes loss of over Rs 100cr for Mukhtar Ansari gang

Varanasi: The action initiated by police against jailed mafia don and MLA Mukhtar Ansari, especially since May 31, has resulted in the loss of over Rs 100 crore for him and his henchmen so far.
It has not only caused dent to his economic empire but has also hit his armoury badly with over 70 arms surrendered following suspension or cancellation of arm licences.
Talking to TOI on Tuesday, ADG Varanasi zone Brij Bhushan said, “The police is continuing is action against all organised gangs and gangsters but most of the men who came on its radar, especially in Mau, Ghazipur, Varanasi, Azamgarh and Jaunpur districts, had their links with Mukhtar.”
After investigating and confirming that the wealth generated by Mukhtar’s henchmen have been generated through illegal activities, he said, police started initiating the process of confiscation under Gangster Act. Bushan said, the value of the properties of Mukhtar’s henchmen seized, government land freed from their possessions and constructions demolished was Rs 66 crore. The illegal sources of earning like extortion in the name of taxi stands, operating slaughter houses, monopoly in fish, coal and other trades was generating an income of Rs 41 crore per annum for this gang. Police have successfully hit all these sources of income, he added.
Other major action had been taken in the cases of arms licences procured with false information, he said adding that 72 arms licences of Mukhtar’s close aides were cancelled or suspended while 71 arms have been surrendered so far.
The series of major action against Mukhtar’s henchmen was started by Mau police in June when the police targeted the people strengthening Mukhtar’s economic empire by extorting money in the name of taxi stands and operating illegal slaughter house. After it, Mukhtar’s accomplices involved in illegal trade of fish started coming on the target of police in Mau, Varanasi and Jaunpur.
According to SP Mau Anurag Arya, only in a period of a month (May 31 till June end) five FIRs were lodged against Mukhtar backed gangs in which 45 persons were active in the illegal trades like of fish, mining and extortion.
Varanasi administration and police gave a shock to the fish trade mafia Mohd Salim, who maintained monopoly with Mukhtars patronage for past two decades and also sold banned species of Thai Mangur fearlessly. Similar action was initiated by Jaunpur police against fish trade mafia. All these Mukhtar back fish trade mafia extorted money from all trader on the sale of per kg of fish, said police.
Officials at Mukhtars home turf in Ghazipur also kept noose tightening on the relatives and henchmen of Mukhtar, who is currently lodged Ropar jail in Punjab, in past two months. During their action illegally captured land and other properties of Rs 39.83 crores have been freed from the possession of Mukhtars close associates.