News Analysis India

Tag: Atiq Ahmed

  • Turkish pistols used to kill Atiq, Ashraf were meant to shoot Delhi gangster Tajpuria, say cops

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: The sensational killing of gangster Tillu Tajpuria inside Tihar Jail on Tuesday has thrown up an equally sensational UP connection. UP Police sleuths who have been interrogating Mohit Singh alias Sunny, accused of killing gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf on April 15, reveal that the Turkish pistols he and Lavlesh Tiwari used to kill the two brothers were originally meant to shoot Tajpuria.

    There were reports immediately after the Prayagraj gangsters’ murder that the high-end Zigana pistols Sunny and Lavlesh used had been given to them by Delhi gangster Jitendra Gogi. Now, cops corroborate this claim with new information that Sunny had been given the pistols by Gogi to eliminate his arch-rival Tajpuria. However, before the plan could be executed, Gogi himself was killed in a Rohini court in September 2021.

    The cops say that Sunny had kept both the firearms ever since with him and used them for killing Atiq and his brother in Prayagraj.

    ALSO READ | In UP badlands, will Atiq’s killing see new breed of criminals who seek fame by targeting bigger fish?

    They said that Sunny had been in contact with Gogi for a long time. Gogi had given him the pistols with an instruction to kill Tajpuria whenever he came for the court hearing. But Gogi himself was killed in a similar manner and Tajpuria was named as the main conspirator of the crime.

    Police sources added that the last of the 14 FIRs registered against Sunny in UP was in 2019. He met the Gogi gang in the NCR in 2021. They said that the mic and camera Sunny and the other two killers used to masquerade as TV reporters to execute the killings were purchased in the name of an NCR-based channel.

    “Sunny had planned to use the same modus operandi to target Tajpuria during his court appearance,” the cops claim. Shani knew how to use the Zigana pistol and he taught it to his two accomplices Lavlesh Tiwari and Arun Maurya before making the final plan to kill Atiq and Ashraf.

    LUCKNOW: The sensational killing of gangster Tillu Tajpuria inside Tihar Jail on Tuesday has thrown up an equally sensational UP connection. UP Police sleuths who have been interrogating Mohit Singh alias Sunny, accused of killing gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf on April 15, reveal that the Turkish pistols he and Lavlesh Tiwari used to kill the two brothers were originally meant to shoot Tajpuria.

    There were reports immediately after the Prayagraj gangsters’ murder that the high-end Zigana pistols Sunny and Lavlesh used had been given to them by Delhi gangster Jitendra Gogi. Now, cops corroborate this claim with new information that Sunny had been given the pistols by Gogi to eliminate his arch-rival Tajpuria. However, before the plan could be executed, Gogi himself was killed in a Rohini court in September 2021.

    The cops say that Sunny had kept both the firearms ever since with him and used them for killing Atiq and his brother in Prayagraj.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    ALSO READ | In UP badlands, will Atiq’s killing see new breed of criminals who seek fame by targeting bigger fish?

    They said that Sunny had been in contact with Gogi for a long time. Gogi had given him the pistols with an instruction to kill Tajpuria whenever he came for the court hearing. But Gogi himself was killed in a similar manner and Tajpuria was named as the main conspirator of the crime.

    Police sources added that the last of the 14 FIRs registered against Sunny in UP was in 2019. He met the Gogi gang in the NCR in 2021. They said that the mic and camera Sunny and the other two killers used to masquerade as TV reporters to execute the killings were purchased in the name of an NCR-based channel.

    “Sunny had planned to use the same modus operandi to target Tajpuria during his court appearance,” the cops claim. Shani knew how to use the Zigana pistol and he taught it to his two accomplices Lavlesh Tiwari and Arun Maurya before making the final plan to kill Atiq and Ashraf.

  • Security beefed up at Yogi Adityanath’s native village in Uttarakhand after Atiq Ahmed murder

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: Security has been beefed up for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s family members in Uttarakhand’s Panchur village following the murder of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed on April 15.

    Ahmed, against whom over 160 criminal cases were registered under various sections, had supporters associated with him in Uttarakhand as well.

    According to information received, patrolling and police vigil has been increased in Panchur village of Yamkeshwar block of Pauri district of the state. Apart from this, instructions have also been given to tighten the security of VIPs or VVIPs of all types of security categories in the state.

    ALSO READ | ‘They were a threat to UP earlier, now UP is a threat to them’: CM Yogi on gangsters in state

    Senior Superintendent of Police in Pauri Shweta Choubey told The New Indian Express, “Special vigilance is being taken for the safety of family members of UP CM Yogi Adityanath. Yamkeshwar police station police have been asked to conduct special patrolling and security surveillance in his village. Besides, a police circle officer from Srinagar has also been asked to monitor security in UP CM Yogi Adityanath’s village.”

    CM Yogi’s 85-year-old mother Savitri Devi and several family members live in Panchur village. Yogi Adityanath’s father passed away in April 2020 and due to the COVID-19 epidemic, he could not go to his ancestral home at that time. He visited the village in May 2022 and stayed with the family overnight, something he hadn’t done in 30 years.

    DEHRADUN: Security has been beefed up for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s family members in Uttarakhand’s Panchur village following the murder of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed on April 15.

    Ahmed, against whom over 160 criminal cases were registered under various sections, had supporters associated with him in Uttarakhand as well.

    According to information received, patrolling and police vigil has been increased in Panchur village of Yamkeshwar block of Pauri district of the state. Apart from this, instructions have also been given to tighten the security of VIPs or VVIPs of all types of security categories in the state.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    ALSO READ | ‘They were a threat to UP earlier, now UP is a threat to them’: CM Yogi on gangsters in state

    Senior Superintendent of Police in Pauri Shweta Choubey told The New Indian Express, “Special vigilance is being taken for the safety of family members of UP CM Yogi Adityanath. Yamkeshwar police station police have been asked to conduct special patrolling and security surveillance in his village. Besides, a police circle officer from Srinagar has also been asked to monitor security in UP CM Yogi Adityanath’s village.”

    CM Yogi’s 85-year-old mother Savitri Devi and several family members live in Panchur village. Yogi Adityanath’s father passed away in April 2020 and due to the COVID-19 epidemic, he could not go to his ancestral home at that time. He visited the village in May 2022 and stayed with the family overnight, something he hadn’t done in 30 years.

  • Atiq Ahmed’s letter in sealed envelope being sent to CJI & UP CM: Lawyer

    Atiq Ahmed (60) and his brother Ashraf were shot dead at point-blank range by three men posing as journalists in the middle of a media interaction on Saturday night. PRAYAGRAJ: A letter by Atiq Ahmed with instructions to send it to the Uttar Pradesh chief minister and the chief justice of India in case of his death is being dispatched to them, the slain gangster-turned-politicians lawyer said on Tuesday.

    “That letter in a sealed envelope is neither with me nor sent by me. It is kept somewhere else and sent by some other person. I don’t know the contents of the letter,” said his lawyer Vijay Mishra.

    Atiq Ahmed (60) and his brother Ashraf were shot dead at point-blank range by three men posing as journalists in the middle of a media interaction on Saturday night while police personnel were escorting them to a medical college in Prayagraj for a checkup.

    “Atiq Ahmed had said that if there were any mishap or if he was murdered, the letter in the sealed envelope should be sent to the chief justice of India and Uttar Pradesh chief minister,” Mishra told PTI.

    The brothers, both jailed in Prayagraj, were in handcuffs when they were killed in full view of camera crews.

    The horrifying visuals were circulated widely on social media platforms and television channels.

    WEB SCRAWL | In UP badlands, will Atiq’s killing see new breed of criminals who seek fame by targeting bigger fish?

    The last rites of Ahmed’s son Asad, who was gunned down in a police encounter in Jhansi on April 13, were performed here just hours before the shooting.

    They were brought to Prayagraj from Gujarat and Bareilly prisons for interrogation in connection with the killing of Umesh Pal and his two police security guards earlier this year.

    Ahmed had moved the Supreme Court for protection, claiming that he and his family have been falsely implicated in the Umesh Pal murder case and he might be killed in a fake encounter by the Uttar Pradesh Police.

    ALSO READ | I’ll be found dead by the roadside: Atiq’s premonition came true

    WATCH |

  • SIT formed to probe Atiq Ahmed’s murder, assailants shifted from Prayagraj jail

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the killing of Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf, even as the three assailants who shot the two brothers were shifted from the Prayagraj Central Prison to a Pratapgarh jail on Monday.

    The shifting of the shooters to the Pratapgarh District Jail was done on administrative grounds, officials said.

    Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said the SIT was formed on the instructions of Prayagraj Police Commissioner Ramit Sharma.

    “The investigation of the case pertaining to the murder of Atiq Ahmed and his brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf is being carried out by the SHO of Shahganj police station,” said a statement issued by Sharma on Sunday night.

    “In order to ensure impartial and qualitative investigation, this investigation will be carried out by a Special Investigation Team,” it added.

    ALSO READ | Gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed, brother Ashraf buried in UP’s Prayagraj

    According to the statement, the SIT will be headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime, Satish Chandra, while its other two members are Assistant Commissioner of Police (Kotwali police station) Satyendra Prasad Tiwari and Inspector, Investigation Cell of Crime Branch, Om Prakash.

    In another statement, Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police R K Vishwakarma said a three-member team of supervisors has also been formed to ensure qualitative investigation and time-bound action.

    This team is headed by the additional director general of police of Prayagraj zone.

    The other two members are the police commissioner of Prayagraj and the director of the Forensic Science Laboratory, Lucknow, the DGP said.

    The three assailants — Mohit alias Sunny (23) of Hamirpur, Lavlesh Tiwari (22) of Banda and Arun Maurya (18) of Kasganj — were taken from Prayagraj at 12 noon and reached Pratapgarh at 2.10 pm, the officials said.

    The trio were arrested soon after the dramatic shootout outside the Prayagraj hospital where policemen were escorting gangster-politician Ahmed and his brother Ashraf for a medical check-up Saturday night.

    Sources said that the police may submit an application in the court in a day or two seeking remand of the three assailants.

    On Sunday, the attackers were sent to 14-day judicial custody by the court.

    Meanwhile, Prayagraj Central Prison officials refuted reports in a section of media regarding the health of Ali, Atiq Ahmed’s son who is currently lodged there, and said that these reports are “not true” and he is “completely healthy”.

    According to the reports, Ali has been unwell since hearing the news of his father’s killing.

    ALSO READ: I’ll be found dead by the roadside: Atiq’s premonition came true

    Normal activities were yet to resume in Kasari-Masari, the place where Ahmed’s ancestral house is located, and adjoining areas of Prayagraj on Monday, a day after the former MP and his brother Ashraf were buried in their native place.

    The sensitive places in Allahabad West assembly constituency, which was the stronghold of the former Lok Sabha MP, on Monday continued to witness heavy deployment of police personnel.

    However, normalcy returned to other parts of the city, including in and around the Civil Line bus depot and Hanuman Temple on Monday.

    According to the police, the three assailants posted as journalists, carrying video cameras, mike and media identity cards.

    While Sunny is a history-sheeter and has 14 criminal cases, including that of murder, pending against him in Hamirpur, Tiwari faces cases of selling illicit liquor, manhandling and harassing women in Banda, a police officer said.

    Maurya’s criminal history is being traced, the official said.

    Three firearms — a country-made A-30 pistol (7.62), a made-in-Turkiye nine-mm Girsan pistol and a 9-mm Zigana pistol — were recovered from them.

    An FIR was registered at Shahganj police station under sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC and provisions of the Arms Act against Tiwari, Sunny and Maurya in connection with the killing of Atiq and his brother.

    On Sunday, a three-member judicial commission was constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government to look into Ahmed’s murder which will submit its report within two months.

    The commission is headed by Justice (retired) Arvind Kumar Tripathi.

    Former director general of police Subesh Kumar Singh and former district judge Brijesh Kumar Soni are its members.

    Ahmad and Ashraf were brought to Prayagraj from Gujarat and Bareilly prisons for interrogation in connection with the killing of Umesh Pal and his two police security guards earlier this year.

    LUCKNOW: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the killing of Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf, even as the three assailants who shot the two brothers were shifted from the Prayagraj Central Prison to a Pratapgarh jail on Monday.

    The shifting of the shooters to the Pratapgarh District Jail was done on administrative grounds, officials said.

    Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said the SIT was formed on the instructions of Prayagraj Police Commissioner Ramit Sharma.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “The investigation of the case pertaining to the murder of Atiq Ahmed and his brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf is being carried out by the SHO of Shahganj police station,” said a statement issued by Sharma on Sunday night.

    “In order to ensure impartial and qualitative investigation, this investigation will be carried out by a Special Investigation Team,” it added.

    ALSO READ | Gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed, brother Ashraf buried in UP’s Prayagraj

    According to the statement, the SIT will be headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime, Satish Chandra, while its other two members are Assistant Commissioner of Police (Kotwali police station) Satyendra Prasad Tiwari and Inspector, Investigation Cell of Crime Branch, Om Prakash.

    In another statement, Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police R K Vishwakarma said a three-member team of supervisors has also been formed to ensure qualitative investigation and time-bound action.

    This team is headed by the additional director general of police of Prayagraj zone.

    The other two members are the police commissioner of Prayagraj and the director of the Forensic Science Laboratory, Lucknow, the DGP said.

    The three assailants — Mohit alias Sunny (23) of Hamirpur, Lavlesh Tiwari (22) of Banda and Arun Maurya (18) of Kasganj — were taken from Prayagraj at 12 noon and reached Pratapgarh at 2.10 pm, the officials said.

    The trio were arrested soon after the dramatic shootout outside the Prayagraj hospital where policemen were escorting gangster-politician Ahmed and his brother Ashraf for a medical check-up Saturday night.

    Sources said that the police may submit an application in the court in a day or two seeking remand of the three assailants.

    On Sunday, the attackers were sent to 14-day judicial custody by the court.

    Meanwhile, Prayagraj Central Prison officials refuted reports in a section of media regarding the health of Ali, Atiq Ahmed’s son who is currently lodged there, and said that these reports are “not true” and he is “completely healthy”.

    According to the reports, Ali has been unwell since hearing the news of his father’s killing.

    ALSO READ: I’ll be found dead by the roadside: Atiq’s premonition came true

    Normal activities were yet to resume in Kasari-Masari, the place where Ahmed’s ancestral house is located, and adjoining areas of Prayagraj on Monday, a day after the former MP and his brother Ashraf were buried in their native place.

    The sensitive places in Allahabad West assembly constituency, which was the stronghold of the former Lok Sabha MP, on Monday continued to witness heavy deployment of police personnel.

    However, normalcy returned to other parts of the city, including in and around the Civil Line bus depot and Hanuman Temple on Monday.

    According to the police, the three assailants posted as journalists, carrying video cameras, mike and media identity cards.

    While Sunny is a history-sheeter and has 14 criminal cases, including that of murder, pending against him in Hamirpur, Tiwari faces cases of selling illicit liquor, manhandling and harassing women in Banda, a police officer said.

    Maurya’s criminal history is being traced, the official said.

    Three firearms — a country-made A-30 pistol (7.62), a made-in-Turkiye nine-mm Girsan pistol and a 9-mm Zigana pistol — were recovered from them.

    An FIR was registered at Shahganj police station under sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC and provisions of the Arms Act against Tiwari, Sunny and Maurya in connection with the killing of Atiq and his brother.

    On Sunday, a three-member judicial commission was constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government to look into Ahmed’s murder which will submit its report within two months.

    The commission is headed by Justice (retired) Arvind Kumar Tripathi.

    Former director general of police Subesh Kumar Singh and former district judge Brijesh Kumar Soni are its members.

    Ahmad and Ashraf were brought to Prayagraj from Gujarat and Bareilly prisons for interrogation in connection with the killing of Umesh Pal and his two police security guards earlier this year.

  • Assailants had media Id card, video camera, microphone: UP cops on Atiq’s murder

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: The three assailants who killed gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf posed as journalists, carrying video cameras, mike and media identity cards, the Uttar Pradesh Police said on Sunday.

    According to the statement issued by Special DG (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar, the attackers used made-in-Turkiye pistols and fired indiscriminately from point-blank range on the two brothers.

    The statement identified the three accused as Sunny (23) from Hamirpur, Lavlesh Tiwari (22) from Banda, and Arun Kumar Maurya (18) from Kashganj.

    “At about 10.30 pm both Atiq and Ashraf were being taken for a health examination at Motilal Nehru Regional Hospital in the Shahganj area, where media persons were persistently trying to take bite of the two,” the Special DG (Law and Order) said in the statement.

    “The media persons were breaking the security cordon to reach the accused (Atiq Ahmad and Ashraf) for taking their bites. In this sequence, both Atiq and Ashraf were giving bites to the media and they were escorted (by the police). Meanwhile, from the crowd of media, three media persons with a video camera, mike and media Id reached them and started firing indiscriminately,” he said.

    The two brothers got injured and fell on the ground instantly, he said, adding they were taken to the hospital where they were declared dead.

    ALSO READ: I’ll be found dead by the roadside: Atiq’s premonition came true

    Constable Maan Singh has sustained a firearm injury, the police statement issued this evening said, adding some media persons also got injured due to the “stampede” following the firing.

    The injured policeman has been also sent for treatment. The three attackers were caught by the policemen using necessary force, the statement said.

    According to information gathered till now, Sunny is a professional criminal and a history-sheeter and has 14 criminal cases including that of murder, loot, narcotics transport, and attempt to murder pending against him in Hamirpur, Kumar said.

    Tiwari faces cases of selling illicit liquor, manhandling and harassing women at the City and Beberu police stations in Banda, he said, adding cases under Information Technology Act were also registered against him. Maurya’s criminal history is being traced, he said.

    ALSO READ: Kin of Atiq killers disown them

    The statement said police have recovered three firearms including a countrymade A-30 pistol (7.62), a made-in-Turkiye nine-mm Girsan pistol, and a 9-mm Zigana Pistol, also made in Turkiye, it said.

    An FIR has been registered in this case at Shahganj police station and a probe is underway.

    A report on the entire incident has been sent to the National Human Rights Commission and the State Human Rights Commission.

    A three-member judicial commission has been constituted by the government that will submit its report within two months.

    The commission is headed by HC Justice (retired) Arvind Kumar Tripathi, while ex-DGP Subesh Kumar Singh and former district Judge Brijesh Kumar Soni are its members.

    Both Atiq and Ashraf were brought to Prayagraj from Gujarat and Bareilly prisons for interrogation in connection with the killing of Umesh Pal and his two police security guards.

    ALSO READ: ‘Jungle Raj’, ‘mafia raj’, anarchy: Opposition slams BJP over Atiq’s killing

    LUCKNOW: The three assailants who killed gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf posed as journalists, carrying video cameras, mike and media identity cards, the Uttar Pradesh Police said on Sunday.

    According to the statement issued by Special DG (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar, the attackers used made-in-Turkiye pistols and fired indiscriminately from point-blank range on the two brothers.

    The statement identified the three accused as Sunny (23) from Hamirpur, Lavlesh Tiwari (22) from Banda, and Arun Kumar Maurya (18) from Kashganj.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “At about 10.30 pm both Atiq and Ashraf were being taken for a health examination at Motilal Nehru Regional Hospital in the Shahganj area, where media persons were persistently trying to take bite of the two,” the Special DG (Law and Order) said in the statement.

    “The media persons were breaking the security cordon to reach the accused (Atiq Ahmad and Ashraf) for taking their bites. In this sequence, both Atiq and Ashraf were giving bites to the media and they were escorted (by the police). Meanwhile, from the crowd of media, three media persons with a video camera, mike and media Id reached them and started firing indiscriminately,” he said.

    The two brothers got injured and fell on the ground instantly, he said, adding they were taken to the hospital where they were declared dead.

    ALSO READ: I’ll be found dead by the roadside: Atiq’s premonition came true

    Constable Maan Singh has sustained a firearm injury, the police statement issued this evening said, adding some media persons also got injured due to the “stampede” following the firing.

    The injured policeman has been also sent for treatment. The three attackers were caught by the policemen using necessary force, the statement said.

    According to information gathered till now, Sunny is a professional criminal and a history-sheeter and has 14 criminal cases including that of murder, loot, narcotics transport, and attempt to murder pending against him in Hamirpur, Kumar said.

    Tiwari faces cases of selling illicit liquor, manhandling and harassing women at the City and Beberu police stations in Banda, he said, adding cases under Information Technology Act were also registered against him. Maurya’s criminal history is being traced, he said.

    ALSO READ: Kin of Atiq killers disown them

    The statement said police have recovered three firearms including a countrymade A-30 pistol (7.62), a made-in-Turkiye nine-mm Girsan pistol, and a 9-mm Zigana Pistol, also made in Turkiye, it said.

    An FIR has been registered in this case at Shahganj police station and a probe is underway.

    A report on the entire incident has been sent to the National Human Rights Commission and the State Human Rights Commission.

    A three-member judicial commission has been constituted by the government that will submit its report within two months.

    The commission is headed by HC Justice (retired) Arvind Kumar Tripathi, while ex-DGP Subesh Kumar Singh and former district Judge Brijesh Kumar Soni are its members.

    Both Atiq and Ashraf were brought to Prayagraj from Gujarat and Bareilly prisons for interrogation in connection with the killing of Umesh Pal and his two police security guards.

    ALSO READ: ‘Jungle Raj’, ‘mafia raj’, anarchy: Opposition slams BJP over Atiq’s killing

  • Atiq Ahmed, brother shot dead in UP: Reports

    Atiq Ahmed son was killed in an encounter on April 13 ‘Gangster-turned-politician’Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf Ahmed were shot dead on Saturday while being taken for medical in Prayagraj, reports say. 

    Atiq’s son, Asad, was killed in an encounter on April 13 and his cremation took place today amid tight security.  

    More details are awaited.

  • Gangster Atiq Ahmed, brother shot dead while in police custody in Uttar Pradesh

    Express News Service

    In a brazen act of violence, in the presence of Uttar Pradesh police, mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf Ahmed were shot dead while being taken for a medical check-up in Prayagraj late Saturday night.

    However, the accompanying cops nabbed the three assailants. A cop was injured in the firing.

    As per local sources, Atiq Ahmed and his brother were being taken to the hospital for a medical check-up in the police escort. As they got down from the police van and were talking to media persons in front of the hospital, Atiq was fired by the assailants, who were disguised as media persons, in his head. The assailants intruded inside the police circle escorting Atiq and his brother and shot at them from close range. Consequently, Atiq slumped down to the ground and he was followed by Ashraf.

    #WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: Moment when Mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf Ahmed were shot dead by assailants while interacting with media.(Warning: Disturbing Visuals) pic.twitter.com/PBVaWji04Q
    — ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2023
    The assailants have been identified as Lavlesh Tiwari, Sunny and Arun Maurya.
    The local sources claimed the assailants fired 10 rounds to ensure that both gangsters were killed. Immediately, the bullet-riddled bodies of Ahmad and Ashraf were taken away from the spot as tension gripped the area after the sensational killing. 

    Notably, the two were in police custody and had been brought to Prayagraj from their respective Sabarmati and Bareilly jail for interrogation in connection with Umesh Pal murder case.Two days back, Atiq’s son Asad, wanted in connection with Umesh Pal murder case was eliminated by UP STF in Jhansi in an encounter.

    The shooting was caught on camera as mediapersons were following the duo being escorted to the hospital by the police for a medical checkup.

    The bullet-riddled bodies of Ahmed and Ashraf were taken away from the spot as tension gripped the area after the sensational killing.

    Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held discussions with Special DG (Law & Order) Prashant Kumar and DGP Rajkumar Vishwakarma.

    Meanwhile, a three-member judicial panel has been set up to probe into the shootout.

    17 police personnel were suspended with immediate effect in connection with the murders.

    ALSO READ | UP govt carrying out encounters with an eye on polls, Constitution under threat: Akhilesh Yadav

    Police held a flag march in the Chakia locality where Atiq’s ancestral residence is situated.

    Internet services have been suspended in Prayagraj. The district borders have been sealed.

    Ahmed’s son Asad (19) and an accomplice were killed in a police encounter in Jhansi on April 13. Their last rites were conducted earlier in the day. Atiq Ahmed was denied permission to attend his son’s funeral. Asad was buried at a mortuary in Prayagraj.

    In a brazen act of violence, in the presence of Uttar Pradesh police, mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf Ahmed were shot dead while being taken for a medical check-up in Prayagraj late Saturday night.

    However, the accompanying cops nabbed the three assailants. A cop was injured in the firing.

    As per local sources, Atiq Ahmed and his brother were being taken to the hospital for a medical check-up in the police escort. As they got down from the police van and were talking to media persons in front of the hospital, Atiq was fired by the assailants, who were disguised as media persons, in his head. The assailants intruded inside the police circle escorting Atiq and his brother and shot at them from close range. Consequently, Atiq slumped down to the ground and he was followed by Ashraf.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    #WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: Moment when Mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf Ahmed were shot dead by assailants while interacting with media.
    (Warning: Disturbing Visuals) pic.twitter.com/PBVaWji04Q
    — ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2023
    The assailants have been identified as Lavlesh Tiwari, Sunny and Arun Maurya.
    The local sources claimed the assailants fired 10 rounds to ensure that both gangsters were killed. Immediately, the bullet-riddled bodies of Ahmad and Ashraf were taken away from the spot as tension gripped the area after the sensational killing. 

    Notably, the two were in police custody and had been brought to Prayagraj from their respective Sabarmati and Bareilly jail for interrogation in connection with Umesh Pal murder case.
    Two days back, Atiq’s son Asad, wanted in connection with Umesh Pal murder case was eliminated by UP STF in Jhansi in an encounter.

    The shooting was caught on camera as mediapersons were following the duo being escorted to the hospital by the police for a medical checkup.

    The bullet-riddled bodies of Ahmed and Ashraf were taken away from the spot as tension gripped the area after the sensational killing.

    Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held discussions with Special DG (Law & Order) Prashant Kumar and DGP Rajkumar Vishwakarma.

    Meanwhile, a three-member judicial panel has been set up to probe into the shootout.

    17 police personnel were suspended with immediate effect in connection with the murders.

    ALSO READ | UP govt carrying out encounters with an eye on polls, Constitution under threat: Akhilesh Yadav

    Police held a flag march in the Chakia locality where Atiq’s ancestral residence is situated.

    Internet services have been suspended in Prayagraj. The district borders have been sealed.

    Ahmed’s son Asad (19) and an accomplice were killed in a police encounter in Jhansi on April 13. Their last rites were conducted earlier in the day. Atiq Ahmed was denied permission to attend his son’s funeral. Asad was buried at a mortuary in Prayagraj.

  • UP: Atiq Ahmad’s brother arrested for sheltering Umesh Pal’s killers

    By PTI

    MEERUT: Uttar Pradesh Police’s Special Task Force (STF) has arrested the brother-in-law of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad for sheltering and providing money to the killers of Umesh Pal — the key witness in the murder case of BSP MLA Raju Pal.

    Akhlaq Ahmad, a government doctor, was arrested from Nauchandi area here by an STF team on Saturday night and taken to Prayagraj, said Superintendent of Police, STF, Brijesh Singh.

    Umesh Pal and his police security guards Sandeep Nishad and Raghvendra Singh were shot dead on February 24 outside his home in Prayagraj’s Dhoomanganj.

    Based on a complaint lodged by Umesh Pal’s wife Jaya Pal, a case was registered at Dhoomanganj police station against Atiq Ahmad, his brother Ashraf, wife Shaista Parveen, two sons, aides Guddu Muslim and Ghulam, and nine others.

    Akhlaq Ahmad, posted at the Abdullapur Community Health Centre, not only provided shelter to the killers of Umesh Pal but also money when they reached Meerut after the murder, sources said.

    On March 28, an MP-MLA court in Prayagraj held Atiq Ahmad and two others guilty in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case and sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment for life.

    Ashraf and six others were acquitted by the court.

    This is Atiq Ahmad’s first conviction even though more than 100 cases were registered against the former Samajwadi Party MP over the years.

    MEERUT: Uttar Pradesh Police’s Special Task Force (STF) has arrested the brother-in-law of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad for sheltering and providing money to the killers of Umesh Pal — the key witness in the murder case of BSP MLA Raju Pal.

    Akhlaq Ahmad, a government doctor, was arrested from Nauchandi area here by an STF team on Saturday night and taken to Prayagraj, said Superintendent of Police, STF, Brijesh Singh.

    Umesh Pal and his police security guards Sandeep Nishad and Raghvendra Singh were shot dead on February 24 outside his home in Prayagraj’s Dhoomanganj.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Based on a complaint lodged by Umesh Pal’s wife Jaya Pal, a case was registered at Dhoomanganj police station against Atiq Ahmad, his brother Ashraf, wife Shaista Parveen, two sons, aides Guddu Muslim and Ghulam, and nine others.

    Akhlaq Ahmad, posted at the Abdullapur Community Health Centre, not only provided shelter to the killers of Umesh Pal but also money when they reached Meerut after the murder, sources said.

    On March 28, an MP-MLA court in Prayagraj held Atiq Ahmad and two others guilty in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case and sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment for life.

    Ashraf and six others were acquitted by the court.

    This is Atiq Ahmad’s first conviction even though more than 100 cases were registered against the former Samajwadi Party MP over the years.

  • Atiq Ahmed’s brother Ashraf brought to Naini Jail in UP’s Prayagraj

    By PTI

    PRAYAGRAJ: Gangster-politician Khalid Azim alias Ashraf was brought to the Naini Central Jail in Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh Monday evening amid tight security arrangements, hours after his brother Atiq Ahmed was escorted to the prison from Gujarat.

    Ashraf and Atiq will be produced before a court on Tuesday, when it is likely to pass an order in a 17-year-old kidnapping case against them.

    Ashraf, lodged in the Bareilly District Jail since July 2020, was brought to the Naini Central Jail Monday evening amid tight security arrangements, officials said.

    A police team accompanying him left Bareilly for Prayagraj Monday morning. Atiq Ahmed was brought to the jail in Prayagraj from a prison in Gujarat.

    The police cavalcade bringing him reached the Naini Jail at 5.30 pm on Monday.

    The brothers are named in several criminal cases, including the recent Umesh Pal murder case, police said.

    PRAYAGRAJ: Gangster-politician Khalid Azim alias Ashraf was brought to the Naini Central Jail in Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh Monday evening amid tight security arrangements, hours after his brother Atiq Ahmed was escorted to the prison from Gujarat.

    Ashraf and Atiq will be produced before a court on Tuesday, when it is likely to pass an order in a 17-year-old kidnapping case against them.

    Ashraf, lodged in the Bareilly District Jail since July 2020, was brought to the Naini Central Jail Monday evening amid tight security arrangements, officials said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    A police team accompanying him left Bareilly for Prayagraj Monday morning. Atiq Ahmed was brought to the jail in Prayagraj from a prison in Gujarat.

    The police cavalcade bringing him reached the Naini Jail at 5.30 pm on Monday.

    The brothers are named in several criminal cases, including the recent Umesh Pal murder case, police said.

  • UP police leave from Sabarmati Jail to Prayagraj with gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed 

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW/AHMEDABAD: A UP police team comprising 45 cops left Sabarmati Central jail in Ahmedabad for Prayagraj by road taking gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed along on Sunday evening. The police convoy will cover around 1200-km distance ferrying the gangster to be produced in MP/MLA court of Prayagraj in connection with the 2007 case of abduction of Umesh Pal, who was murdered allegedly by Atiq’s cohorts on February 24, this year.

    The gangster is being brought back in compliance with the production warrant issued by Prayagraj MP/MLA court which will pronounce the verdict in the Umesh Pal abduction case on Tuesday, March 28. Atiq’s younger brother Ashraf, who is lodged in Bareilly jail, is also expected to be produced in the court on March 28.

    Notably, Umesh Pal was the prime witness in the then BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case of2005.

    As per the police sources, a police convoy left Sabarmati central jail along with Atiq Ahmed, a former SP MP from Phulpur and five terms MLA, at around 6:30 pm on Sunday adding that it would take the shortest possible route to reach Prayagraj in UP.

    ALSO READ | Atiq Ahmad’s wife, three sons to be included as members of his gang in UP police records

    According to Additional DG, Law and Order, Prashant Kumar, a UP police team had gone to bring the gangster. “We will be closely watching the movement of the police vehicles while sufficient force has been provided by Prayagraj police to ensure the safe arrival of the criminal,” said the ADG avoiding to divulge the route to be followed by the police convoy from Ahmedabad to Prayagraj. However, headded that the convoy would travel around the clock to reach Prayagraj.

    The police sources confirmed that an IPS officer in the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) along with 45 cops were sent as a team to Sabarmati Central Jail to bring the mafia. Atiq was being brought in a hi-tech prison van – Vajra– accompanied by four police escorts, an additional prison van and an ambulance.

    Atiq is returning to Prayagraj, his bastion, after a period of four years. He was sent to Sabarmati jail in 2019. He has over 100 criminal cases lodged against him and is among the main accused along with his wife Shaista Parveen, their two sons and other close aides in the Umesh Pal murder case.

    Donning a white head gear and a black kurta, Atiq was made to sit in the ‘Vajra’ (number UP 70 AG 4078) along with a team of cops while departing from Sabarmati jail amid heavy security arrangements. While proceeding towards the police van, Atiq told to the media persons that he was feeling a threat to his life. “These people have planned to assassinate me,” said the gangster while getting into the van.

    However, as per the Gujarat police sources, the gangster would be ferried to Prayagraj by the UP police through a route crossing Madhya Pradesh and not Rajasthan.

    ALSO READ | Umesh Pal killing: Atiq’s sister accuses UP minister of plotting against gangster’s family

    The UP police team arrived at Sabarmati Jail in Ahmedabad on Sunday morning with a production warrant from Prayagraj court. Following this, the process of his transportation commenced and it took the Sabarmati jail authorities five hours to hand over the undertrial after verification of all the required documents.

    According to UP DG Prisons, Anand Kumar, Atiq Ahmed would be kept in isolation in a high-security barrack. Jail staff would be chosen and deployed based on records and would wear body-worn cameras. “Jail HQ will monitor it round the clock through a video wall,” said the DG Prison.

    Atiq Ahmed was shifted to Sabarmati jail in June 2019 in compliance with the order of the Supreme Court which had directed the UP police authorities on April 22, 2019, to shift Atiq Ahmad to a high-security jail in Gujarat after he was accused of orchestrating the abduction and assault on a real estate trader Mohit Jaiswal, from inside the jail.

    LUCKNOW/AHMEDABAD: A UP police team comprising 45 cops left Sabarmati Central jail in Ahmedabad for Prayagraj by road taking gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed along on Sunday evening. The police convoy will cover around 1200-km distance ferrying the gangster to be produced in MP/MLA court of Prayagraj in connection with the 2007 case of abduction of Umesh Pal, who was murdered allegedly by Atiq’s cohorts on February 24, this year.

    The gangster is being brought back in compliance with the production warrant issued by Prayagraj MP/MLA court which will pronounce the verdict in the Umesh Pal abduction case on Tuesday, March 28. Atiq’s younger brother Ashraf, who is lodged in Bareilly jail, is also expected to be produced in the court on March 28.

    Notably, Umesh Pal was the prime witness in the then BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case of
    2005.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    As per the police sources, a police convoy left Sabarmati central jail along with Atiq Ahmed, a former SP MP from Phulpur and five terms MLA, at around 6:30 pm on Sunday adding that it would take the shortest possible route to reach Prayagraj in UP.

    ALSO READ | Atiq Ahmad’s wife, three sons to be included as members of his gang in UP police records

    According to Additional DG, Law and Order, Prashant Kumar, a UP police team had gone to bring the gangster. “We will be closely watching the movement of the police vehicles while sufficient force has been provided by Prayagraj police to ensure the safe arrival of the criminal,” said the ADG avoiding to divulge the route to be followed by the police convoy from Ahmedabad to Prayagraj. However, he
    added that the convoy would travel around the clock to reach Prayagraj.

    The police sources confirmed that an IPS officer in the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) along with 45 cops were sent as a team to Sabarmati Central Jail to bring the mafia. Atiq was being brought in a hi-tech prison van – Vajra– accompanied by four police escorts, an additional prison van and an ambulance.

    Atiq is returning to Prayagraj, his bastion, after a period of four years. He was sent to Sabarmati jail in 2019. He has over 100 criminal cases lodged against him and is among the main accused along with his wife Shaista Parveen, their two sons and other close aides in the Umesh Pal murder case.

    Donning a white head gear and a black kurta, Atiq was made to sit in the ‘Vajra’ (number UP 70 AG 4078) along with a team of cops while departing from Sabarmati jail amid heavy security arrangements. While proceeding towards the police van, Atiq told to the media persons that he was feeling a threat to his life. “These people have planned to assassinate me,” said the gangster while getting into the van.

    However, as per the Gujarat police sources, the gangster would be ferried to Prayagraj by the UP police through a route crossing Madhya Pradesh and not Rajasthan.

    ALSO READ | Umesh Pal killing: Atiq’s sister accuses UP minister of plotting against gangster’s family

    The UP police team arrived at Sabarmati Jail in Ahmedabad on Sunday morning with a production warrant from Prayagraj court. Following this, the process of his transportation commenced and it took the Sabarmati jail authorities five hours to hand over the undertrial after verification of all the required documents.

    According to UP DG Prisons, Anand Kumar, Atiq Ahmed would be kept in isolation in a high-security barrack. Jail staff would be chosen and deployed based on records and would wear body-worn cameras. “Jail HQ will monitor it round the clock through a video wall,” said the DG Prison.

    Atiq Ahmed was shifted to Sabarmati jail in June 2019 in compliance with the order of the Supreme Court which had directed the UP police authorities on April 22, 2019, to shift Atiq Ahmad to a high-security jail in Gujarat after he was accused of orchestrating the abduction and assault on a real estate trader Mohit Jaiswal, from inside the jail.