Controversial Independent member of Legislative Assembly Mukhtar Ansari surrendered on Tuesday before a local court at Ghazipur, following pressure mounted by the Uttar Pradesh police to arrest him in connection with the Mau communal riots.

A report from Ghazipur said Mukhtar, along with several of his supporters, went to the local court on Tuesday morning and surrendered before a judge.

The Mau police had lodged a First Information Report against Mukhtar and Bharatiya Janata Party member of Legislative Council Ramji Singh under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for instigating riots, which started on October 13 and left at least seven people dead.

The Opposition blamed the state police for going slow on the arrest of Mukhtar, as he was supporting the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led government.

"It is not so easy to arrest Mukhtar," was the only comment State Director General of Police Yashpal Singh could make when his attention was recently drawn towards the MLA interacting freely with newspersons at his residence in the state capital.

• Situation improves in Mau

Ruling Samajwadi Party MP from Ghazipur, Afzal Ansari, who is also the elder brother of Mukhtar Ansari, has alleged his brother was being framed at the behest of the Raj Bhawan.

"Raj Bhawan is forcing the government to take action against Mukhtar, who had done nothing wrong in Mau district," he told newspersons.

"We have full faith in the chief minister, who has never bowed under any pressure and always stood by his secular credentials," he added.

Admitting the police had raided his house in search of Mukhtar, Afzal said his brother had only tried to restore communal peace in Mau. But now he was being framed by the political opponents.

The MP also showed the media a CD exhibiting how Mukhtar, on the particular day of communal violence, urged people to maintain harmonmy.