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No politician in Mayawati's list of 'most wanted' criminals

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati made tall announcements about a crackdown on "most wanted" criminals in the state, but her list did not include a single politician.

While reviewing the law and order situation in the state, Mayawati ordered the list of 29 "most wanted" criminals to be put up on the Web site of the state's director general of police, who ensured that this was done over the next two to three hours. All zonal inspectors general of police and range deputy inspectors general were present at this special meeting convened by her.

Interestingly, the only alleged criminal-turned-politician to figure in the list is Brijesh Singh from Varanasi, from whom Mayawati herself perceives a threat. It is another matter that the Uttar Pradesh police believe that Brijesh Singh died in Kolkata some time last April of injuries received in a gun battle in Dhanbad, Jharkhand.

Brijesh Singh was believed to be close to Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former chief minister Rajnath Singh, whom Mayawati considers her bete noire in a party that has otherwise joined hands with her.

He tops the list with a reward of Rs 200,000 on his head, the same as for dreaded bandit Dadua, who operates in the Bundelkhand region on the border with Madhya Pradesh.

Talking to reporters, the chief minister said, "I have always maintained that law and order is on top of my list of priorities, so here I am; but my idea is not to just issue statements and warnings. I believe in concrete action, which will soon be visible to you on the ground."

She, however, refused to divulge details of her strategy to deal with the "most wanted" criminals, or even the broader outlines of her plan to improve law and order in the state.

She also declined to explain why no criminal-turned-politician (many of whom are elected representatives) had been included in her "most wanted" list.

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