Uttar Pradesh Govt Withdraws Former MLA Azam Khan's Y-Category Security

The decision was taken after a letter from the security headquarters was received stating that there was no justification for maintaining the security arrangement.

The 'Y' category security that was provided to former Samajwadi Party MLA Mohammad Azam Khan by the Uttar Pradesh government has been withdrawn, reported ANI. Dr Sansar Singh, Additional SP Rampur, said the decision was taken after a letter from the security headquarters was received stating that there was no justification for maintaining the security arrangement.

All police personnel, including three gunners, from Azam Khan's residence have been withdrawn.

Singh told Indian Express that on Wednesday they had received the letter from the Superintendent of Police (Training and Security) after the security was withdrawn. 

According to an IANS report, a senior home department official said that the state-level security committee, which provides security to ministers, former ministers and VVIPs, in its report stated that there was no justification to maintain the 'Y' category security for Khan. Thereafter, an order was sent to the Superintendent of Police (SP), Rampur, Ashok Kumar Shukla, on behalf of the State Secretary, Home Affairs (Police), A.V. Rajamouli, the official added. 

Since the BJP came to power in Uttar Pradesh in 2017, as many as 84 cases have been registered against Azam Khan in Rampur on various charges.

This year in February, Azam Khan and his Rampur MLA son Abdullah Azam were sentenced two years imprisonment by MP/MLA court in Moradabad in a 2008 case.

However, the court has granted bail to both.

According to PTI, Special Public Prosecutor Mohan Lal Vishnoi said the FIR against Khan, Azam and seven others was lodged in 2008. They had sat on dharna on a state highway on January 29, 2008 as their cavalcade was stopped by police for checking in the wake of an attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in Rampur in Uttar Pradesh on December 31, 2007. 

Meanwhile, in May, Azam Khan, his wife former MP Tanzeen Fatima and a clerk of the Basic Education Department, Taufeeq Ahmad where charged in a case for allegedly using forged documents to secure recognition for Rampur Public School which is run by the Jauhar Trust which is head by Khan.