Gangster Munna Bajrangi shot dead inside U.P. jail

Gangster Prem Prakash Singh alias Munna Bajrangi was shot dead inside the Baghpat district jail in Uttar Pradesh early on Monday.

Following the incident, the State government has suspended the Jailor, Deputy Jailor, Warden and Head Warden and ordered a judicial inquiry.

Barely a week ago, Bajrangi's wife Seema Singh alleged at a press conference that the Special Task Force (STF) of the police was hatching a conspiracy to murder him.

Bajrangi was supposed to be presented at a court in Baghpat on Monday in a case of alleged extortion from former BSP MLA Lokesh Dixit.

He was kept in a barrack with notorious criminal Sunil Rathi. According to jail officials, there was an altercation between both, after which Rathi shot Bajrangi dead. The police are interrogating Rathi.

Bajrangi's advocate Vikas Shrivastava told The Hindu that he was brought to the Baghpat jail from Jhansi jail on July 8 night.

“Bajrangi was shot dead inside the jail premises at 6:30 a.m. on Monday. The shocking part of all this is that the administration was well aware of the threats to his life. Just a week ago, his wife Seema Singh addressed a press conference highlighting threats to his life. Even Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was made aware about the life threat,” said Mr. Shrivastava.

“Such an incident happening on the jail premises is quite serious. Hence I have ordered a judicial inquiry and the suspension of the jailor. The authorities are investigating the matter,” Mr. Adityanath said.