Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf were murdered inside a medical college in Uttar Pradesh, India, where they were being taken for a medical examination. The attackers disguised themselves as media personnel and were later apprehended by police, revealing that they wanted to eliminate the brothers to make a name for themselves. The incident has highlighted the need for stringent laws and a crackdown on the nexus between politicians and criminals in Indian politics.
The news of the murder of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf has sent shockwaves across India. The murder took place on Saturday inside the MLN Medical College premises in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, where they were being taken for a medical examination. The attackers were immediately apprehended by the police and have been identified as Sunny, Lovelesh, and Arun.
Attackers’ Motive and Arrest
During the interrogation, the attackers revealed that they wanted to eliminate Atiq and Ashraf’s gang to make a name for themselves in the state so that they could benefit in the future. They had been waiting for the right opportunity to kill them and had disguised themselves as media persons, but they could not find the right time until the day of the incident.The police have arrested the three attackers and have beefed up security outside the residence of Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath after the murders. Prayagraj has witnessed the suspension of 17 police officials, and Section 144 has been enforced as a precautionary measure..
The moment Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf started talking to the media, one of the shooters dropped his mic and camera and picked his pistol and shot at them. In cross-firing, one of the constables was shot in the hand, and one of the attackers also got shot in his accomplice’s cross-firing. Some of the journalists who were covering the incident also got minor injuries.The attackers were chanting Jai Shri Ram, a slogan associated with the Hindu nationalist movement, and opened fire from a very close range with multiple bullets.Following the murder of Atiq Ahmad and his brother, which was captured on camera, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has formed a three-member judicial commission to investigate the incident. This incident happened only a few days after the police encounter in which Atiq Ahmad’s son was killed. The security situation in Prayagraj is tense, and the police have been put on high alert.
Atiq’s Controversial Background
Atiq Ahmed had a controversial background and was known for his involvement in criminal activities. He had also served as a Member of Parliament in the past and had been associated with various political parties over the years, had about 100 cases filed against him, including kidnapping and murder. Atiq, who was in the high-security Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, was brought to Prayagraj by a police team from Uttar Pradesh on March 26 to appear in court for the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case. Subsequently, on March 28, Atiq and two others were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the said kidnapping case. Atiq moved the Supreme Court for protection, claiming that he and his family had been falsely implicated in the Umesh Pal murder case and he may be killed in a fake encounter by the Uttar Pradesh Police. However, the court rejected his plea.
