Daliganj don beats up trader black and blue

Traders gherao SSP office after cops refuse to lodge an FIR against Anna. SSP says probe first.

A TRADER had to bear the brunt of mafia don-turned-ex-Samajwadi Party MLC Arun Shanker Shukla alias Anna Shukla on Thursday as the former canvassed for a rival party  candidate in local body elections.

Anna not only assaulted trader Atul Jain but also allegedly issued life threats to him if he ever was seen campaigning against the don’s candidate.

On the other hand, Jain and other traders of Daliganj market were shooed away from the Hasanganj police station when they went to get an FIR lodged against don-turned politician. The group of traders later gheraoed the local police station and the SSP’s camp office demanding registration of the case.

SSP GK Goswami assured the victim for a probe into the matter and subsequently lodging the FIR against the don.

The incident took place around 8.30 am when Anna Shukla’s fleet was passing by Daliganj market. Suddenly, all the vehicles in the fleet screeched to a halt and the don stepped out of a SUV. He walked away towards a group of traders engaged in chatting.

Anna reportedly pounced upon one of the businessmen—-Atul Jain and dragged him on the road by the collar. Hurling choicest expletives, Anna started beating up the trader black and blue. Eyewitnesses reported Anna saying, “sale bohot netagiri sawar hai tumhare. Mere khilaf sar uthayega tu daliganj me reh ke. Pata nahi chalega tere ghar walon ko tere baare me. (You are trying to challenge me.

Your family would not be able to search you). 

After beating up the trader, Anna handed over the victim to his armed henchmen who too assaulted Jain. The don and his aides left the place threatening the residents and the traders with dire consequences of they ever tried to even speak against Anna. 

Though there was a mob of over hundred of shopkeepers none of them mustered courage to rescue the hapless victim.

Jain, supplier of electrical goods and who owns a shop on Panna Lal Road, broke down before HT Live while narrating the incident. He said Anna had summoned him at his ‘darbar’ (residence) at Daliganj on Wednesday night. Jain reached there along with his brothers Pradip and Babloo. He then snubbed Jain for canvassing in support of rival candidate. The don’s daughter-in-law (nephew’s wife) was contesting the local body election and Jain was leading the group of traders campaigning for the candidate against Anna’s family member.

He threatened Jain to withdraw himself from the election campaign or face the music. The don attacked trader when he saw Jain discussing with rival candidate on Thursday morning.

Jain along with other traders went to the local police station but the policemen reportedly shooed him away advising not to challenge such an influential person.
Jain said the Daliganj market would be closed on Friday in protest of the incident and Lucknow Yuva Vyapar Mandal would call for a bandh on Saturday if the case was not registered against Anna Shukla.