History-sheeter heads board
Times of India, India
KANPUR: While Samajwadi Party – all the while it was in power in UP – was regularly badgered by its opponents for patronising criminals, the Congress-led UPA government itself has done no better: It has assigned a key government portfolio to a Kanpur-based history-sheeter.
The Union textile ministry has appointed Brijendra Sonkar, accused in 34 cases of murder, attempts to murder and also under various sections of the National Security Act, NDPS, Gangster Act and Explosives Act, as the director of All-India Handicraft Board.
Sonkar is not the lone member of his family with a criminal record. His three brothers – Brijesh, Ritesh and Rajesh alias Sheebu – are also history-sheeters and have cases of heinous crimes like murder and attempts to murder against their names.
Brijesh (history sheet No 1378/A), Ritesh (HS No 64/A), Rajesh (HS No 554/A) are leading peddlers who allegedly assist their brother in the racket. In the last few years, the Sonkar brothers have been at loggerheads with another druglord, Babloo Sonkar.
Apart from the drug racket, Sonkar is also an accused in the murder of another mafia don Uma Shankar alias Lala Haddi. Following the murder of Lala around eight months back, Sonkar was arrested and a case under Section 302, 120B, and 32 V SC/ST Act was lodged with the Anwarganj police station. As many as 30 criminal cases are registered against him with the Anwarganj police station.