Jailed gangster Atiq Ahmed’s son killed in encounter by UP police

Asad, son of mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and shooter Ghulam, both wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case were killed in an encounter on Thursday. The duo were killed in a joint operation by Uttar Pradesh Police Special Task Force (UPSTF) team led by DySP Navendu and DySP Vimal at Jhansi.

Asad and another accused Ghulam carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh each. The police recovered sophisticated weapons that were made in a foreign country.

According to reports, the marriage of Atiq's son Asad was fixed with the daughter of Ayesha Noori. The two got engaged last year. Atiq's son Asad was involved in the shootout case of Umesh Pal.

After the encounter, CM Yogi Adityanath held a meeting on law and order, the UP CMO said. CM Yogi praised UP STF as well as DGP, Special DG law and order and the entire team. A report was placed in front of the CM on the matter.

Atiq Ahmed breaks down after hearing news of son Asad's encounter

After hearing the news of his son Asad Ahmed's killing in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh police, Atiq Ahmed broke down in tears.

'Tribute to my son': Umesh Pal's mother on Asad encounter

Reacting to the encounter killing of Asad, Shanti Devi, Umesh Pal's mother, said it was a "tribute to my son". "I thank CM Yogi ji for serving justice and I appeal to him to give us justice ahead also. We have full faith in CM," ANI quoted Shanti Devi as saying.

Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 murder case of BSP MLA Raju Pal, and his two police security guards were shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj's Dhoomanganj area on February 24 this year. Based on a complaint lodged by Umesh Pal's wife Jaya Pal, a case was registered on February 25 against Ahmad, Ashraf, their family members and others.

The FIR was lodged under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC. Ahmad is also an accused in the 2005 Raju Pal murder case.

The encounter comes on a day when Atiq Ahmad and his brother were produced before a Prayagraj court in connection with the case. The gangster was brought to Prayagraj via road from Ahmedabad's Sabarmati jail for his production in court. His brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf was brought from Bareilly jail.