In an obvious bid to divert the attention of people from the mysterious death of a jailed medical officer in the state capital, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati on Friday expelled her party Member of Legislative Assembly Shahnawaz Rana from the primary membership of the party. Rana has been expelled for his alleged involvement in case of attempted rape and molestation of two women.
Mayawati has directed the special task force to probe the incident.
Cornered on account of widespread criticism over inaction against the party MLA, who also holds the position of member in the State Sunni Waqf Board, the expulsion clearly aimed at impressing that the chief minister was really firm on the maintenance of law and order.
"The chief minister's action was aimed at making it loud and clear that she would not tolerate any nonsense from anyone, irrespective of his association or position in the ruling party," said state Principal Home Secretary Kunwar Fateh Bahadur.
He was addressing a press conference on behalf of the chief minister. "The MLA's involvement in molestation of some women was alleged by one Varun Jain in a First Information Report lodged with the Muzaffarnagar police on Thursday. No sooner than preliminary investigation confirmed the MLA's prima facie involvement in the incident, the chief minister took serious note of the matter and ordered his expulsion from the party."
According to the complainant, he and his female companions were kidnapped and manhandled by Rana and his cohorts while they were stuck on the Muzaffarnagar-Delhi highway on account of some engine trouble in their car. Mayawati has also issued stern directives for Rana's total boycott from all party functions with immediate effect, Bahadur added.
Rana was the sixth legislator of the ruling party to have faced punitive action for their involvement in unlawful and criminal acts ever since BSP rode to power in May 2007. Five legislators have so far been sent to jail for murder, rape and kidnapping."
"Since two policemen were also found to have sided with the MLA, they have also been placed under suspension", said Bahadur.
UP police on Firday announced a reward of Rs 5,000 each on the arrest of two relatives of BSP MP Kadir Rana for alleged rape attempt on two Delhi girls in Muzaffarnagar. Police said that a manhunt has been launched for Shazaib Rana and Saddam Rana, nephews of Kadir, and a reward of Rs 5,000 announced on their arrest following a complaint by a friend of the two girls, Gaurav Tiwari, in Shahadra police station that some persons attempted to molest the two girls after abducting them on June 21.
"On the basis of investigation five persons Dilshaad Rana, Rakib, Masroof, Darrar and Narendra were arrested. Of this Darrar and Narendra are gunners of MLA Rana and his wife Intikhab Rana, chairman of zila panchayat," he said.
Fateh Bahadur said the two gunners have already been suspended and all the five accused have been sent to jail.
"The car used in the incident and licenced pistol of Dilshaad had also been recovered," he said.
With inputs fom PTI