Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were shot dead in Prayagraj Saturday night while in police custody. Three men opened fire on the duo as they were being brought to Prayagraj’s Medical College for a medical exam. Three individuals have been arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police for opening fire on Atiq, Ashraf and their companions.
Ahmed (60), a five-term MLA from Allahabad West and one-term MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Phulpur district, was sent to four-day police custody by the court of the chief judicial magistrate in Prayagraj Thursday.
Atiq received a life sentence in March for his conviction in a 2007 abduction case. This was Atiq’s first conviction. He is accused of at least 130 crimes, ranging from murder and extortion to extortion.
The fatal attack on Atiq came days after his son Asad and his accomplice Ghulam were killed in a ‘police encounter’ in Jhansi. Both were named as accused in the killing of Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 murder case of BSP MLA Raju Pal, who was shot dead in broad daylight outside his home in Prayagraj’s Dhoomanganj area on February 24 this year.
Please read: ‘Totally reduced to dust’: Atiq Ahmed on his life — from a dreaded gangster to MP, and then in jail
LIVE UPDATE:
9:20 am Senior UP police officials have identified the three attackers as Arun Mauriya from Kasganj; Lavlesh Tewari from Banda; and Rohit alias Sunny, Hamirpur. The three attackers were also found to have three pistols.
9:00 am Prayagraj Internet service suspended
8:30 am Reacting to the incident, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) cheif Assaduddin Owaisi said, “Atiq and his brother were in police custody. He was handcuffed. JSR slogans also were raised. The killing of both is the failure of Yogi’s law and order system. Those celebrating encounter raj are also responsible for this murder.”
He demanded the resignation of CM Adityanath, as well as all present police officers.
अतीक़ और उनके भाई पुलिस की हिरासत में थे। उन पर हथकड़ियाँ लगी हुई थीं। JSR के नारे भी लगाये गये। दोनों की हत्या योगी के क़ानून व्यवस्था की नाकामी है। एनकाउंटर राज का जश्न मनाने वाले भी इस हत्या के ज़िम्मेदार हैं।
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) April 15, 2023
7:45 a.m. UP Chief minister Yogi Amityanath held a meeting late at night in Lucknow. He instructed state police officers on high alert to ensure law and orders are maintained throughout the entire state.
“CM has also appealed to people not to pay any attention to rumours. Strict action will be taken against those who spread rumours”, according to the Chief Minister office’s statement.
2:10 am: Meanwhile, BJP MP Subrat Pathak called for a “thorough probe” into the attack on Atiq. Taking to Twitter, he said, “There must be a thorough probe on murder of Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf…..strict action will be taken against the murderers.”
1:50 am: Kapil Sibal, Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, condemned the murders on social media. He wrote on Twitter, “Two murders in UP: 1) Atiq Ahmed and brother Ashraf 2) Rule of law.”
1:45 am: “When someone can be killed by firing openly amidst the security cordon of the police, then what about the safety of the general public,” asked Akhilesh Yadav.’
Please Read: ‘Pure anarchy, murder of rule of law’: Politicians condemn killings of Atiq Ahmed, his brother
1:30 am: Atiq Ahmed, his brother and other members of UP Police Rapid Action Force were all killed in the Prayagraj Medical College.
1:15 am: After the deadly attack on Atiq A., Prohibition Orders under Section 144 of the CrPC were issued in all 75 districts within Uttar Pradesh.
01:00 am: Ramit Sharma told the press that the police are currently questioning three individuals arrested near the scene. Sharma stated that preliminary investigations have led the police believe that three men shot Atiq Ashraf were posing as media personnel to infiltrate police cordon.
In addition, he said that a reporter with the news agency ANI as well a police officer were injured in this shooting.
Please Read: ‘Nahi le gaye toh nahi gaye’: Atiq Ahmed’s last words before being shot dead in Prayagraj
12:45 am: Yogi Ajityanath, Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister, called a special meeting to discuss in the open the security breach that led at Atiq Ahmed to be killed and his brother Ashraf. According to news agency ANI. The CM UP also ordered the formation a three-member judicial enquiry commission to investigate the issue.
12:30 am: The section 144 CrPC which prohibits more than four people from gathering in the same place has been implemented in Prayagraj following the deadly attack on Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf.
Please Read: ‘No dust marks, empty pistol’: Retd IPS seeks NHRC probe into Asad-Ghulam ‘encounter’ by UP STF