In major revelation, former UP DGP reveals how gangster Atiq Ahmed was patronised politically

Atiq Ahmed has contested and won as an Independent candidate in Uttar Pradesh. He has also been part of the Samajwadi Party.

A former DGP of Uttar Pradesh has made shocking claims amidst the controversy surrounding the murder of Umesh pal.

The former DGP, O P Singh was speaking about the murder of Pakistan, a key witness in the 2005 murder of then BSP MLA, Raju Pal, who was shot dead on February 24 2023. The murder has also brought up the name of gangster Atiq Ahmed.

The former DGP in an exclusive interview with India Today said that he and a team of police officers raided Atif's den in 1989-90 following an FIR filed against him.

At that point the police team was encircled by thousands of Attic's men, who were set to open fire on them.

Singh said that he had wanted to arrest Atiq and his gang right there, but political pressure stood in the way and they had return without making any arrests. He said that had Atiq been detained or killed following an encounter, the situation would not the been this messy.

It should be noted that the time frame that Shah is referring to was the time when Mulayam Singh was the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. O P Singh however did not take Mulayam's name directly in the interview. Mulayam Singh who was then part of the Janata Dal, went on to form the Samajwadi Party.

The murder of Umesh Pal:

Pal, was a key witness in the 2005 murder of BSP MLA Rajul Pal. He was shot dead at his residence in Prayagraj, UP in February. Pal was rushed to hospital, but lost his life while receiving treatment.

The police booked Atiq based on a complaint by Jaya Pal, the wife of the deceased. Atif's brother, Ashraf, his wife Shaista Parveen, two sons, aides, Guddu Muslim and Ghulam were also booked.

The accused have been booked for rioting, being armed with a deadly weapon, unlawful assembly, attempt to murder, criminal intimidation and criminal conspiracy under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code.

The police have managed to track 10 of Atif's gang members and are currently searching for the rest.

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.