Gangster Atiq Ahmed, brother shot dead in UP: What we know so far

Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Khalid Azeem alias Ashraf were shot dead while being taken to medical check-up in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj on Saturday.

The shooting was caught on camera as mediapersons were following the duo being escorted to the hospital by the police for a medical checkup. Three persons posing as journalists were seen firing from point-blank range at Ahmed and his brother who fell to the ground, while the police soon overpowered the attackers.

The bullet-riddled bodies of Ahmed and Ashraf were taken away from the spot as tension gripped the area after the sensational killing.'' Both of them had been brought in Prayagraj for a court hearing in connection with the 2005 Umesh Pal murder case.

The police have already apprehended all three killers on the spot, and the investigation is ongoing. It may be recalled that Atiq had sevral times mentioned to the media that he was alive only because of their presence in his police convoy.

CM Yogi orders to form 3-member judicial commission to probe matter

After the Prayagraj incident, the chief minister Yogi Adityanath took swift action and convened a high-level meeting in Lucknow and ordered the probe, Kumar said.

The chief minister has constituted a three-member judicial commission to probe the killing of Ahmad and Ashraf,'' Special DG, Law and Order, Prashant Kumar said. He said the three assailants were arrested from the spot and a detailed probe is on in the matter.

Sec 144 imposed across UP

Meanwhile, section 144 has been imposed across Uttar Pradesh following gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf's killing under police custody in Prayagraj district. Internet services have been blocked in Prayagraj following the murder.

Earlier, his son Asad Ahmed and his aide Ghulam were killed in an encounter with Uttar Pradesh Police in Jhansi. The encounter took place at 12.45 pm when two team intercepted Asad and Ghulam on the Kanpur-Jhansi highway. One British Bulldog Revolver .455 bore and a Walther P88 7.63 bore pistol were recovered following the encounter.

Atiq Ahmed's family has been on the radar of the Uttar Pradesh police for the last decade. According to media reports, Shaista Parveen, wife of accused Atiq Ahmed is planning to surrender.

On February 24 this year, Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 murder case of BSP MLA Raju Pal, was shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj area. Pal was rushed to hospital, but lost his life while receiving treatment. His family accused Atiq, his wife Shahista Parveen, brother Ashraf, Asad, Guddu Muslim and Ghulam among those responsible for the murder.

Based on a complaint lodged by Umesh Pal's wife Jaya Pal, a case was registered on February 25 against Ahmed, 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. Ahmed is also an accused in the 2005 Raju Pal murder case.

About Atiq Ahmed:

Ahmed is a five-time MLA from Allahabad and has won as an independent in 1989, 1991 and 1993. He won the assembly seat on an SP ticket in 1996 and then went on to win 2002 on an Apna Dal ticket in 2002. In 2004, he won the Phulpur Lok Sabha seat from SP, but was expelled from the party in 2008. He contested the 2009 Lok Sabha elections on an Apna Dal ticket, which he lost.

In the 2012 assembly elections, he contested from jail, but lost to Raju Pal's widow Puja Pal.

Prior to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, he was inducted into the SP again and contested from the Shrawasti seat, which he lost to the BJP.

Atiq has many other pending cases against him, including assault, torture, kidnapping among others.

(with PTI inputs)