Less than 24 hours after he was brought to Baghpat prison in Uttar Pradesh from Jhansi, dreaded gangster Munna Bajrangi was shot dead inside the jail premises on Monday. Bajrangi was to be produced in a local court on Monday morning.
According to reports, inmate Sunil Rathi from a rival gang fired at Bajrangi inside the jail around 6.30 am, killing him on the spot.
His wife had told the police last month that there was a conspiracy to kill him. “I want to tell UP Chief Minister Adityanath ji that my husband’s life is in danger. A conspiracy is being hatched to kill him in a fake encounter,” Seema Singh had said at a press conference on June 29.
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A team of investigators are probing Bajrangi’s murder after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued an order to the effect on Monday. The jailor has been suspended too.
“I have ordered a judicial inquiry and suspension of the jailor. Such an incident occurring inside jail premises is a serious matter. Will conduct an in-depth investigation and strict action to be taken against those responsible,” said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Earlier, soon after the news of the gangster’s murder spread, opposition parties accused the government of poor law and order.
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The Special Cell of the Delhi Police had arrested Munna Bajrangi alias Prem Prakash in October 2009 from Mumbai for the murder of BJP lawmaker Krishnanand Rai. Accused in more than 40 cases of murder and extortion, he once carried a reward of 7 lakh on his head.
He was brought to Baghpat jail from Jhansi on Sunday to be produced in court.
Bajrangi had last year gone to the Supreme Court opposing his transfer to Pilibhit jail from Jhansi. With the SC ruling in his favour, the UP government had issued an order in May 2017 to shift Bajrangi back to Jhansi jail from Pilibhit.
In 2012, Bajrangi had unsuccessfully contested an election from Mariyahu in Jaunpur on a ticket from Apna Dal.