LUCKNOW: A case of murder, inciting violence and breaking curfew orders has been registered against Independent legislator Mukhtar Ansari by the police in Mau district. Director-general of police Yashpal Singh said efforts have begun to arrest Mr Ansari and police teams have fanned out to various places for this.

The case was registered at Kotwali police station on Monday night, apparently on the instructions of the chief minister. The case was registered after the joint team of the DGP and the principal home secretary, which is investigating Mr Ansari’s role in the Mau riots, reportedly found him prima facie guilty of inciting violence in the riot-affected district.

Apart form this, one more case, of murder, has been registered against the Independent MLA by one Jitendra Yadav, whose brother Ram Prakash Yadav was killed on Oct 14 when the riots began in Mau town. BJP MLA Ramji Singh has also been named as an accused in this case.

According to reports, Mr Ansari played an active role in inciting violence in Mau as soon as the dispute over the use of a microphone during a “Bharat Milap” programme reached a flashpoint last Friday. As the riots spread across the township, Mr Ansari could be seen sitting atop his open jeep, accompanied by his security men, issuing directives to all and sundry.

However, Mr Ansari told reporters in Mau that the state government had registered the case against him apparently under pressure from the BJP. “I demand a CBI inquiry into the riots in Mau and if I am found guilty I am ready to be hanged.” —By arrangement with The Asianage