Uttar Pradesh Police on Tuesday said there was no laxity in the department’s effort to provide protection to gangster Munna Bajrangi, who was shot dead inside a jail in Baghpat on Monday, PTI reported. Director General of Police OP Singh said adequate security was provided to Bajrangi while he was being ferried from the jail in Jhansi to Baghpat.
Singh said Bajrangi was shot dead following a brawl with members of a local criminal gang inside the prison. “There was no laxity on part of the Uttar Pradesh Police in providing security to Bajrangi,” Singh said.
Bajrangi was shot dead by inmate Sunil Rathi, according to The Times of India. Bajrangi was to be produced in court in connection with the 2005 murder case of Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Krishnanand Rai.
Principal Home Secretary Arvind Kumar refused to comment on various theories about Bajrangi’s death that have reportedly come up. “A number of versions have come out,” Kumar said. “A magisterial and judicial probe is on. It will be revealed in the inquiry report.”
Munna Bajrangi alias Prem Prakash was arrested by the Delhi Police in October 2009 for allegedly threatening a businessman in a bid to extort Rs 1 crore. Bajrangi had several murder and extortion cases against him.
Chief Minister Adityanath ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident and the suspension of the jailor. Additional Director General (Prison) Chandra Prakash suspended four jail officials following the incident.
On June 29, Bajrangi’s wife addressed a press conference alleging a conspiracy to kill him. “Some police officials would kill my husband during a fake encounter when he comes out of the jail to appear in the court,” she had said, according to The Daily Pioneer. The principal home secretary said he would look into the matter.
Meanwhile, former chief minister and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav criticised the state government for the “misrule and chaos” in the state. “In present day Uttar Pradesh, there is no law and order, just an atmosphere of panic,” Yadav tweeted. “The perpetrators have become so confident that they have murdered someone in prison. These are the government’s failures.”
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