[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
Mulayam Singh Youth Brigade Extorting Traders at Gun Point
Source: 'Organiser,' July 30, 1995
HEADLINE1: Extortions from traders at gun-point
HEADLINE 2: Mulayam Singh Youth Brigade runs amuck in Kasganj
Photo: "One of the injured traders Sanjay Kumar, lying in a hospital in
police custody. Inset Vinit Kumar.
Body:
Even after the sack of the Mulayam Singh Govt., the Mulayam Singh Youth
Brigade is having a field day. Its goonda elements extract toll from the
traders by threatening them at gunpoint. They shoot to kill those who are
hesitent to part with their money to please these anti-socials. One such
incident took place at Kasganj in Etah district on July 16.
Shri Mahendra Pal Gupta, a trader, and his son, Sanjay Kumar, have a
cloth shop at Kasganj in Etah dist., Anand Vastra Bhandar, located at
Barahdwari business centre of the city. At about 11 a.m. on July 16,
they noticed an armed gang of goons, led by district chief of Mulayam
Singh Youth Brigade, Banawari Singh Yadav, entering Barahdwari from Soron
Gate side. The traders in the area informed the police who just ignored
the information.
Before people could realise what was happening, the Samajwadi Party (SP)
goons including city chief of SP youth wing, Charan Singh Yadav and other
SP activists Chote Singh Yadav, Manoj Yadav, Awadhesh Yadav etc., entered
the Anand Vastra Bhandar and demanded Rs. 12,000 as the annual toll.
They threatened the traders that they would not allow them to open the
shop if they failed to pay the amount demanded. When Shri Mahendra Pal
Gupta and his son refused, they snatched the cashbox. When Shri Gupta
and his son protested against it the SP goons shot them and ran away with
the cash-box. As they made their escape, they were firing in the air to
scare away the people.
The frightened shopkeepers pulled down their shutters. The victims were
taken to the hospital by some traders after about over two hours. One of
the sons of the victim, Vinit Kumar alias Banti was also present at the
Shop, at the time of firing. As he was proceeding to the police station
to inform the police about the incident, SHO B.S. Tomar caught him! At
first he allegedly beat the boy and locked him up in jail. Vinit Kumar is
Shiv Sena chief of Kasganj.
The police did not pay attention to the information given by the traders
when the SP goons were returning after looting and shooting the traders.
The traders alleged that the goons were provided help and protection by
the police. Policemen who were supposed to on round the clock duty at
Barahdwari were missing at the time of the incident. The situation took
an ugly turn when some policemen shouted slogans such as "Mulayam Singh
Zindabad" and started lathicharging the traders who were protesting
against the firing on Shro Mahendra Pal Gupta and his son Sanjay Kumar.
The traders were also demanding release of Vinit Kumar forthwith. Five
traders, including chief of traders association Shri Ramesh Jindal, came
forward to furnish sureity bond for the release of Vinit Kumar but
Inspector Ramlakhan Singh declined to accept their bond.
Vinit Kumar who was in the police lock up has alleged that unidentified
persons had been threatening to kill him and his family during the las
few weeks. He also said that two days before the incident his
maternal-aunt was also threatened on telephone to leave the city
forthwith failing which she should be killed. He also said that there was
an attempt on his life four days before.
