Shahabuddin now in Lucknow as STF arrests associate

Special Task Force (STF) personnel arrested an associate of controversial RJD leader Mohammed Shahabuddin today even as they stepped up raid...

Special Task Force (STF) personnel arrested an associate of controversial RJD leader Mohammed Shahabuddin today even as they stepped up raids to nab the Lok Sabha member from Siwan, days after Bihar Police chief D.P. Ojha ordered his arrest in a kidnapping case.

SP (STF) Vinay Kumar Singh said Shahabuddin’s supporter Jawahar Choudhary, a co-accused in the case, was arrested from his house at his native village under the Mufassil police station in Siwan early this morning.

The MP is himself evading arrest despite the warrant issued against him by a local court in the Munna Chaudhary kidnapping case in January 2001. Having got off at Gorakhpur on his way to Siwan, Shahabuddin has since moved to Lucknow.

Despite the fact that he seems to be trying to evade arrest, the MP again reiterated today that he would surrender even if his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the civil court as well as the high court. ‘‘I have moved an anticipatory bail plea in the Siwan Civil Court and hope that the decision will come within this week,’’ he said. If the plea is rejected, he added, ‘‘I will go to the high court but if the high court also rejects it, I will surrender.’’

Police personnel seen to control the situation during a massive protest over the statehood demand and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, in Leh on Wednesday. (ANI Video Grab)

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