Jailed gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf Ahmed were shot dead on Saturday night in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, while being transported for a medical checkup.
In television footage, Gangster Atiq Ahmed spoke to reporters when at least two individuals armed with pistols opened fire on them. Soon after, three persons turned themselves into the police. This comes only days after his son, Asad Ahmed, 19, was slain in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force. On Saturday, Asad Ahmed was laid to rest.
A senior official told The Indian Express that the interrogation of Atiq and Ashraf was almost complete. Per routine legal procedure, both were taken to the hospital under police security for a check-up before being sent back to judicial custody.
The two were led by cops after exiting the police van on the hospital premises, according to the official. Both were a few yards from the hospital’s entrance when reporters gathered to interrogate them. Atiq had just begun to respond to a question when a hand carrying a pistol appeared behind him, pulling back his white turban with the gun’s nozzle and firing from point-blank range at his left temple. Another bullet hit Ashraf’s neck from the left side at the same time, and both brothers dropped to the ground. In the footage, Atiq is seen clutching the hand of a police constable, Maan Singh, as he collapses to the ground.
The police officer was also shot as the shooters continued to fire.
Later, Prayagraj Police Commissioner Ramit Sharma stated that the gunmen disguised themselves as journalists. Sharma noted that the shooters are being interrogated but have yet to be identified.
The two shooters raised their hands and surrendered to the police officers their seconds after emptying their mags. Another young man carrying a knapsack on his back also surrendered. CM Yogi Adityanath summoned DGP RK Vishwakarma and Special DG, Law & Order, Prashant Kumar immediately following the event.
Atiq Ahmed was brought to UP from a jail in Ahmedabad a few days ago. He and his family members had repeatedly sought protection from courts, saying that they face threats and their lives were in danger. Atiq had also knocked on the doors of the Supreme Court for his protection in custody in the Umesh Pal murder case.
Atiq and two others were sentenced to life imprisonment and Ashraf was acquitted in this case last month. As part of its crackdown on the mafia, the Yogi Adityanath government had over the last six years arrested several of Atiq’s gang members and claimed to have seized or demolished his properties and that of his associates worth around Rs 800 crore.
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