Gangster Prem Prakash aka Munna Bajrangi shot dead inside UP jail

Dreaded gangster Prem Prakash Singh alias Munna Bajrangi was shot dead, allegedly by an inmate, inside the District Jail in Baghpat in western Uttar Pradesh on Monday, July 9 morning, exposing the poor law and order situation in the state. UP CM Yogi Adityanath has ordered a judicial inquiry and suspension of the jailor. “Such an incident occurring inside jail premises is a serious matter. Will conduct an in-depth investigation and strict action to be taken against those responsible,” ANI News quoted Adityanath as saying.

Uttar Pradesh’s Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Law and Order, Praveen Kumar told media that Bajrangi was brought to Baghpat from Jhansi jail to appear in an extortion case. He was lodged in the Baghpat District Jail and was allegedly shot dead by an inmate on Monday morning. The DIG said that a judicial probe has been ordered and alleged that the Sunil Rathi gang members could be behind the custodial death. Unconfirmed reports say at least 10 bullets were fired at Bajrangi.

The custodial death is even more shocking given that as recently as June 29, Bajrangi’s wife Seema Singh had raised apprehensions about possible attempts to murder her husband within the jail itself. She had reportedly alleged that senior police officials and the Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorist Squad and Special Task Force were conspiring to kill Bajrangi. “Some police officials would kill my husband during a fake encounter when he comes out of the jail to appear in the court," she had said (see below). Seema Singh also alleged that a few days back Munna Bajrangi survived an attempt on his life after being attacked inside the Jhansi jail. "My husband had already informed the court about the threat on his life and even given names to the concerned court," she said.

Munna Bajrangi: Eastern UP don killed by western UP gangsters?

Munna Bajrangi, who was alleged to have been involved in at least 40 killings and was the main accused in the murder of BJP MLA Krishnand Rai in Ghazipur in 2005, has been in jail for the last nine years.

Bajrangi, who hailed from eastern Uttar Pradesh, was a gangster-turned-politician turned gangster again, a character seemingly straight out of an Anurag Kashyap movie. He at first ‘trained’ under Mukhtar Ansari's gang. Bajrangi operated in eastern UP and his reach was said to extend across the border into Nepal. In the early 2000s, he frequently went underground in Nepal. The gangster fatally clashed with BJP MLA Krishnand Rai, whom he is accused of murdering. After the murder of Rai, UP Police had announced a reward of ₹7 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Munna Bajrangi. He was found living with his family in a chawl near the Siddhivinayak Mandir in Mumbai in 2009, from where the police finally arrested him. He had been in hiding since 2003. Since his arrest in Mumbai, he was in jail in Jhansi. He was reportedly earlier attacked in 2005 as well, while travelling for a court hearing.

Prem Prakash aka Munna Bajrangi also contested the UP assembly elections in 2012 from Mariyahu seat in Jaunpur district as a joint candidate of the Apna Dal and the Peace Party. He came in third.

Investigations into his murder may uncover whether ultimately, as UP Police claim, Western UP gangsters finished off the eastern UP don.

Inputs by NH Web Desk.