Threatened BJP MLAs restless over inaction

Lucknow: The dozen odd BJP MLAs, who have been receiving extortion messages since the past fortnight, are now getting increasingly restless at the lack of action by the state police.

The MLAs have been waiting patiently for the STF and ATS to nab the culprits, but the officials are unwilling to even comment on the progress of investigations.

In the meantime, some of the MLAs have received more messages on WhatsApp.

Lokendra Pratap Singh, MLA from Lakhimpur, said that on Tuesday he had received more messages. “One was a photograph of a woman’s dead body, covered in blood and the message said that very soon one member of your family will be seen in a similar state”, he said.

The MLA said that though he had informed the police about the message, which came from a different number, no action had been taken.

“My family is distressed on this issue. They are living in the shadow of fear”, he said.

The MLAs said that the failure of the police to crack the case had actually emboldened the local mafia. Last week, BJP MLA from Kasganj, Devendra Singh, received a letter, supposedly signed by a local mafia, demanding a sum of Rs 5 lakhs.

BJP MLA from Deoria, Janamejay Singh also received a similar threat.

BJP MLA form Hardoi, Shyam Prakash has already said that he would pay the amount of Rs 10 lakhs to the extortionist because he had no faith in the state police.

Interestingly, investigating probe agencies on Sunday said they have detected transactions of over Rs 8 lakhs in a crypto-currency (bitcoin) account that was mentioned in the alleged extortion messages received by the MLAs in the state.