This MP is most wanted by Bihar police

This MP is most wanted by Bihar police
ARUN SRIVASTAVA

PATNA/NEW DELHI, NOV 30: He represents Sheohar in the Lok Sabha but police records mention him as an absconder. He is alleged to have been involved in the forcible release of a criminal, Mahesh Prasad Yadav. He has denied the charge and threatened that if the police did anything outside its ``manual'', lakhs of his supporters would give them a ``befitting reply''. And he is returning to his constituency on Friday.

Anwarul Haque, who figures in 13 cases, was charged with forcibly releasing his associate from police custody on November 19. Yadav had been arrested after a long chase. The moment Haque came to know of his arrest, he rushed to the police station and allegedly got Yadav released forcibly. He is also said to have thrashed the policemen who resisted him.

When the policemen protested before their seniors, they were taken aback to find them indifferent and even willing to cover up. When the policemen persisted, the court was moved and a warrant of arrest issued. Now the police officials of the district do not know who will bell the cat.

Haque is known to be a protege of Laloo Prasad Yadav and enjoys a lot of clout. The state CID has submitted a detailed report on his activities, accusing him of beating custom officials and providing patronage to anti-socials active in smuggling.

Now the entire police force of Sitamarhi district has threatened to go on an indefinite strike from December 1 if Haque is not arrested by then. The Policemen Association and Police Association have threatened to intensify their stir against senior officials. They have also alleged that supporters of Haque have been issuing threats.

``I have been framed in the incident,'' says Haque. ``I was not present at the spot when Mahesh Yadav reportedly freed himself from the policemen,'' he claims. Haque's supporters have, in fact, launched a signature drive in his favour to prove that at the time of incident he was present at a public function, along with the District Magistrate. What has enraged the policemen is the order from Director General of Police K A Jacob to have the matter investigated by a DIG.

Jacob, confirming the police protest, said: ``If a warrant of arrest has been issued, I cannot do anything. But I must look into his written allegation that he is being framed falsely.'' Jacob added ``if at all Haque is involved, the DIG will ensure that he is arrested''.

Haque says he had met Jacob, who has appointed Muzaffarpur DIG Shiv Dutt Sharma to inquire into the incident. ``I was at least 28 km away from the area where the incident is said to have occurred, meeting the area collector and BDO. I urge the policemen to abide by the rule of law,'' he says.

The policemen are afraid that if somehow Haque manages to wriggle out of this case, he would become a terror for the local police. No policeman would dare to touch him in future.

However, the first-time MP from Sheohar says its the police which is terrorising people. ``The police jungle raj in my area has already made the people jittery. Probably the fact that for the first time somebody from the minority community has won from the area has something to do with this campaign of vilification against me. My opponents want to destroy me politically but I will fight to the last.''

Meanwhile, sources in the Criminal Investigation Department point out that the Indo-Nepal border along Sitamarhi has turned into a haven for criminals. Most of them enjoy the patronage of the powerful politician, they alleged. IG (Economic wing) Manoj Nath had earlier in his report mentioned that two customs officials -- Bhaskar and Awadhesh Kumar -- had been abducted on November 29 last year and taken to the residence of Haque and beaten up badly. These two have been actively trying to break the smuggling network. It was on the intervention from the top that both were released.