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Gangs of Jaunpur: Munna Bajrangi’s life and killing give a glimpse into UP crime and politics

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8 years ago

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Gangs of Jaunpur: Munna Bajrangi’s life and killing give a glimpse into UP crime and politics

Dreaded Uttar Pradesh gangster Prem Prakash Singh alias Munna Bajrangi was shot dead in Baghpat jail on Monday, hours before he was to be produced in a district court this morning.

Just a week earlier, his wife had alleged a threat to his life.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said: “I have 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.”

The jailor and his deputy and two others have been suspended.

Arrested in Mumbai in October 2009, Munna was wanted in several cases of murder, loot, extortion and other crimes, most notably for the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai in 2005. Rai was ambushed while he and his associates were travelling on Lucknow highway in two vehicles. Munna and his men sprayed the vehicles with AK47 and Rai was shot more than 100 times. Six others with him were killed in the attack

Bajrangi was accused in more than 40 murder and extortion cases and once carried a reward of 7 lakh on his head.

The gangster was also wanted in the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai in 2005. In 2012, he had also contested Assembly Elections from inside the jail as a joint candidate of Apna Dal and Peace Party from Madiyahu seat, reported NDTV. Though, he did not win the elections but stood at third place and secured 12% votes.

Rai’s wife Alka Rai, a BJP MLA from Mohammadabad expressed relief and happiness at the news of Munna’s killing, saying she was living in constant fear for her children due to him. Some days ago, she, said, her children were accused of being involved in killing Munna Bajrangi’s wife’s brother.

In various jails since his arrest, the gangster had been transferred to the prison in Baghpat from Jhansi on Sunday for being produced in the district court in a case for demanding extortion money from BJP MLA Lokesh Dixit, said media reports.

According to Additional Director General (ADG), Prison, Chandra Prakash, gangster Sunil Rathi, lodged in the same prison, opened fire on Bajrangi in the early hours of Monday. Sources say around 6.30 am in the Baghpat prison, when the inmates were having tea, another prisoner Sunil Rathi, fired at Bajrangi, killing him instantly, said media reports. While Rathi has been detained, jailer, deputy jailer, warden and head warden have been suspended.

“However, the larger question, which police will investigate, is how did an inmate managed to get a firearm inside the jail,” he added.Munna Bajrangi.

Bajrangi’s wife Seema Singh had said on June 29, “STF wants my husband to be killed inside the jail. The Special Task Force inspector had visited Jhansi jail recently to hatch a conspiracy to kill my husband. They are constantly inquiring about my husband’s health. I have informed the court about it and I also request chief minister Yogi Adityanath to intervene in the matter.”

A report by ANI quoted ADG Prison as saying: “There was altercation b/w Sunil Rathi&him after which he shot him dead. He has been detained&is being interrogated. Jailor,Dy Jailor,Warden&Head Warden have been suspended.Have requested judicial&magisterial inquiry”

SP Baghpat told ANI UP: “Sunil Rathi has been accused of killing Gangster Munna Bajrangi; Body sent for postmortem, fair investigation will be done.”

V Srivastava,advocate of gangster Munna Bajrangi, told ANI UP: “He was brought to District Jail Baghpat from Jhansi,last night. At 6;30am today,a convict lodged in the jail shot him dead&hid the pistol in a gutter. Few days ago,we had made UP CM aware of threat to gangster Munna Bajrangi’s life”

Bajrangi, accused in as many as 40 cases of murder and extortion, had once survived an encounter with the police in 1998 after he was shot nine times. 

Life and crimes of Munna Bajrangi – and the political linkages

Born in 1967 to a family in Jaunpur, Munna Bajrangi alias Prem Prakash Singh was a school dropout – he had quit studies after Class V and by adolescence had developed criminal tendencies. Fond of keeping weapons, he was booked for being involved in a fight and possessing illegal arms when he was just about 17 years old.

That was only the beginning of his career in crime. With ambitions of making a name in crime, he got patronage of local strongman Gajraj Singh. In 1984, still 17 years of age, he murdered a businessman during a robbery. After that he killed a BJP leader of Jaunpur. With this explosive start, he went on to commit several other murders.

Seeking to increase his clout and influence in eastern UP, Poorvanchal, he joined the gang of criminal-politician Mukhtar Ansari. The gang became even more powerful after Ansari got elected as an MLA from Mau on Samjawadi Party ticket. Munna now directly started controlling allocation of government contracts.

Around this time, BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai started emerging as a challenge. His gang was backed by Mukhtar Ansari’s arch rival Brijesh Singh. Irked by Rai’s rising influence, Mukhtar gave Munna the job of getting rid of him. On November 29, 2005, he ambushed Rai who was travelling with two vehicles on Lucknow highway. Over 400 rounds were sprayed on the vehicles with AK47. Krishnanand Rai and six others were killed in the attack, each hit by 60 to 100 bullets.

Munna now becae the most dreaded, most wanted gangster. UP Police, STF and CBI were after him and a reward of Rs.7 lakh announced for him. Hunted in UP and Delhi, Munna moved to Mumbai. He also managed to travel abroad and developed more contacts in the underworld. He started handling his gang members over phone from Mumbai.

Munna also tried his hand in politics and tried to get a BJP ticket for a woman from Ghazipur Lok Sabha seat. This was not liked by Mukhtar who stopped helping Munna’s men. After failing to make any headway with BJP, Munna went to a Congress leader who was from Jaunpur but practices politics in Mumbai. Munna Bajrangi had backed him in Maharashtra assembly polls.

Munna was wanted in several cases in many states, the largest number being in UP. Munna is said to have boasted of committing 40 murders in his crime career of 20 years. He was nabbed from Malad in Mumbai by Delhi Police in a dramatic operation on October 29, 2009. It is said that Munna got himself arrested out of fear of getting killed in encounter. Delhi Police was reported to have said that Munna was a suspect in the killing of the controversial encounter specialist Rajbir Singh.

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Abhishek Banerjee says will not bow to BJP after nearly 11 hours of ED questioning

After spending nearly 11 hours before the Enforcement Directorate, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said he would not bow to the BJP and accused the ruling party of using investigative agencies for political purposes.

Published

7 hours ago

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June 16, 2026

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Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress leader and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday said he would not bow to the BJP after spending nearly 11 hours being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Speaking after the questioning, Banerjee alleged that central agencies were being used to target opposition leaders and asserted that he would continue his political fight despite what he described as sustained pressure.

The TMC leader has repeatedly maintained that investigations involving him are politically motivated, a charge he has made on several previous occasions while appearing before central agencies.

His appearance before the ED comes amid a period of heightened political activity and multiple investigations involving leaders in West Bengal. Recent days have also seen Banerjee face summons and questioning in separate matters by state investigative agencies.

After leaving the ED office, Banerjee reiterated that he would not be intimidated and said he remained committed to his political responsibilities. He also accused the BJP of attempting to weaken opposition parties through investigative action, an allegation that the BJP has rejected in the past.

The Enforcement Directorate has not publicly commented on Banerjee’s remarks. The investigation related to the questioning remains ongoing.

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India News

DMK attacks Rahul Gandhi, accuses him of weakening opposition unity

DMK has intensified its criticism of Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader’s actions have weakened opposition unity and strained relations within the INDIA bloc.

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8 hours ago

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June 16, 2026

By

Rahul-Gandhi

The war of words between the DMK and Congress has intensified, with the DMK launching a strong attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and accusing him of contributing to divisions within the opposition alliance. The criticism comes amid strained ties between the two parties following their political split in Tamil Nadu.

According to the DMK, Rahul Gandhi’s political approach has weakened unity among opposition parties. The party’s IT wing mocked the Congress leader on social media, while an editorial published in the DMK’s official mouthpiece Murasoli questioned his recent remarks on opposition solidarity.

DMK questions Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on opposition unity

In its editorial, Murasoli argued that Rahul Gandhi was speaking about opposition unity despite, according to the DMK, contributing to disagreements among alliance partners in several states. The publication cited criticism directed at Congress by various opposition parties and suggested that the party’s actions had often created tensions within the INDIA bloc.

The editorial also referred to past political disputes involving Congress and Left parties, particularly in Kerala, claiming such episodes had raised concerns among opposition allies about Congress’s approach toward its partners.

Tamil Nadu political fallout adds to tensions

The attack comes after a major political realignment in Tamil Nadu. Following the 2026 Assembly elections, Congress ended its alliance with the DMK and joined the government led by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The move left the DMK in the opposition and significantly altered the political equation between the two former allies.

The DMK has alleged that Congress benefited from the alliance during the election and later abandoned its partner. The party’s editorial questioned whether assurances from Congress leadership would be trusted by alliance partners after the developments in Tamil Nadu.

Congress rejects allegations

Congress has not issued a detailed official response to the editorial, but party sources have rejected the allegations. According to the party, its decisions in Tamil Nadu were made in line with the mandate delivered by voters and were not intended to undermine either the DMK or the broader opposition alliance.

The latest exchange highlights growing strains between two key opposition parties even as leaders continue to stress cooperation on national issues. Just days earlier, Rahul Gandhi had said that the DMK remained aligned with the opposition on defending the “idea of India” despite political differences.

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Entertainment

Kumkum Bhagya actor Sanchita Ugale dies by suicide near Mumbai at 22

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, died by suicide at her residence near Mumbai. Police have launched an investigation.

Published

1 day ago

on

June 15, 2026

By

Sanchita Ugale

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for her appearances in Kumkum Bhagya, Wagle Ki Duniya and Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi, died by suicide at her residence in Nalasopara East near Mumbai on June 14. She was 22.

According to police officials, the incident took place at her home in Achole village, Nalasopara East. Authorities said Ugale had locked herself inside her bedroom and was later found hanging from a ceiling fan. Family members and local residents rushed her to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Officials said inquiries are underway and the exact reason behind the incident has not yet been established.

Career across television, OTT and films

Ugale had built a growing presence in the entertainment industry through television, streaming projects and films. Apart from Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, she played a lead role in Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi. She also appeared in OTT projects such as Crime Aaj Kal and Silence 2.

The actor was also associated with the film Chhaava, which contributed to her growing recognition among audiences.

Last social media post draws attention

Following news of her death, social media users shared and commented on Ugale’s final Instagram post, which had been uploaded hours before the incident. The post showed the actor in traditional attire lip-syncing to a classic Bollywood song. Fans expressed shock and grief after learning of her death.

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