DGP orders Shahabuddin arrest

Under fire from political parties for allegedly delaying the execution of non-bailable warrants against controversial RJD MP MD Shahabuddin, Bihar Police chief Ashish Ranjan Sinha today said he has ordered immediate arrest of the MP "anywhere in the country. I have asked the Superintendent of Police of Siwan to constitute a team to immediately arrest Shahabuddin against whom non-bailable warrants are pending," Sinha told PTI.

Asked whether the airports and police establishments elsewhere in the country too have been alerted to facilitate arrest of the RJD leader, he said "Shahabuddin is a known pubic figure. The police will arrest him anywhere in the country".

To another question as to whether he had approached the Delhi Police seeking help to arrest the MP, he said "the Siwan SP will be doing the needful. We have to, in any case, execute the warrants of arrest against all those who are absconding in compliance with the recent directive of the Election Commission and the Patna High Court."

Meanwhile, the state administration has faxed copies of warrants pending against the MP to all District Magistrates to ensure his arrest. State Home Secretary A K Biswas told PTI that copies of non-bailable warrants of arrest pending with the Hussainganj police station against the MP have been faxed to all DMs and SPs for early execution.

Three NBWs pending against Shahabuddin for execution relate to recovery of illegal firearms, ammunition, unaccounted foreign currecy, power theft and violation of the Wildlife Act.

Several firearms of foreign make, ammunition with Pakistan Ordnance factory marking, foreign currency and photographs of Shahabuddin and his men were allegedly seized during a raid on his Pratappur house on April 24.

The warrants notwithstanding, Shahabuddin was in an RJD delegation that called on the Election Commissioners recently and had addressed a function organised by RJD minority cell at Muzaffarpur.