Mafia don Munna Bajrangi aka Prem Prakash was shot dead during a gang war in Bagpat’s District Jail, Uttar Pradesh today.

Born in 1967, Munna was an Indian politician and a gangster hailing from Purvanchal.

Bajrangi was in the jail for the brutal murder of MLA Krishnanand since 2009. He was shot dead by one of his rivals, Sunil Rathi, early in the morning. Bajrangi was to be produced in court for his involvement in the murder case.

A troubled teenager and arms lover

Munna Bajrangi, who only studied till Class 5, was fond of arms since the beginning. Bajrangi entered the world of crime at an early age.

The first case against Munna Bajrangi was filed when he was just 17 years old. Bajrangi was involved in the case for fighting and possessing illegal arms.

Bajrangi later joined Gajraj Singh’s gang in Jaunpur to make a mark in the world of the mafia. Munna Bajrangi carried out his first major crime in 1984 after he killed a businessman. Bajrangi also murdered BJP leader Ramchandra Singh.

Mau and being Mukhtar Ansari’s right hand

Bajrangi, who was also known as Mukhtar Ansari’s right hand, joined Ansari’s gang in the 90s. Ansari’s gang had its influence all over Eastern Uttar Pradesh and was being operated from Mau region.

Mukhtar Ansari is a don-turned-politician who joined politics in 1996 after he became an MLA from Mau through Samajwadi Party (SP).

Bajrangi and Ansari’s gang was making money by garnering government contracts and had strengthened its presence after Ansari became a politician.

The murder of Krishnanand Rai

Ansari’s rivalry with Brijesh Singh, another gangster in the region, led to the death of BJP leader Krishnanand Rai. Rai was working with Brijesh Singh and was hampering Ansari’s ransom works. In 2001, Brijesh Singh’s gang ambushed the Mukhtar Ansari gang on the Mau-Lucknow highway, killing three people from each mafia gang.

Rai was murdered in broad daylight by Munna and his gang in 2005. Bajrangi and his gang members killed Rai by firing 400 bullets from six AK-47s rifles. Rai was accompanied by six people. 67 bullets were recovered from seven bodies.

Munna Bajrangi was arrested in 2009 from Mumbai’s Malad area. The gang war was termed as the biggest display of firepower by the police.

Munna, the politician

Munna fought in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative elections in 2012 while being imprisoned in Tihar Jail. He fought from Mariyahu as a joint candidate of the Apna Dal and the Peace Party. Bajrangi came in third, polling 12 per cent behind winner Shraddha Yadav of Samajwadi Party.