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Raids in Ghazipur, Lucknow to arrest Mukhtar Ansari

     Lucknow/Mau: The Uttar Pradesh police carried out raids at various places in Ghazipur and Lucknow on Sunday to arrest Independent MLA Mukhtar Ansari who is alleged to be the main accused for instigating communal violence in Mau town of the state on October 14. "Raids were carried out in several parts of the state, including three raids in Lucknow itself this morning to arrest Ansari," state Principal Secretary (Home) Alok Sinha and Director General of Police Yashpal Singh told reporters, adding that the Mau Superintendent of Police (DGP) had asked the Police Chiefs of Ghazipur and Lucknow to help track down Ansari. On being asked whether the murder charge against the MLA would be withdrawn as the person who had filed the FIR was now accusing the local police of framing the MLA, the DGP ruled out the possibility, saying the new claims in this regard would be included in the ongoing inquiries. He further said that action could bet taken against the security guards provided to the MLA if they did not report the whereabouts of Ansari. Asked how Ansari has been provided eight security guards, Singh said he has already instructed the ADG (Security) to examine the details and withdraw them in case they had been provided against prescribed norms. "As an MLA, he is entitled to two guards," he said. He added that BJP MLC Ramji Singh, also named in the FIR, would also be arrested. Meanwhile, situation in Mau was under control today and no violent incident was reported from any part though security forces continued patrolling in all the sensitive areas on day nine of the curfew, Superintendent of Police Sujit Pandey said. Curfew was relaxed for women and children to collect essential commodities being distributed by the district authorities, Pandey said. Earlier today, Uttar Pradesh state Principal Secretary (Home) Alok Sinha visited the riot-hit areas in Mau to take stock of the situation.