Jailed gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf Ahmed were shot dead on Saturday night in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh while being taken for a medical test. The incident was captured on camera, with at least two men seen opening fire on the brothers while they were talking to reporters.
Atiq Ahmed, who faced over 100 criminal cases, was recently brought to Uttar Pradesh from a jail in Ahmedabad. He had repeatedly sought protection from courts, including the Supreme Court, as he claimed his life was in danger. This came after his son, Asad Ahmed, was killed in an encounter by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force just days before.
Atiq Ahmed was a former Samajwadi Party MP and was convicted in a kidnapping case. He was also an accused in the murder of Bahujan Samaj Party MLA Raju Pal in 2005 and the killing of Umesh Pal, the murdered MLA’s lawyer, in February this year. Last month, Atiq and two others were sentenced to life imprisonment in the Raju Pal murder case, while his brother Ashraf was acquitted.
Following the shooting, three people surrendered themselves to the police and have been arrested. The incident has sparked outrage and raised questions about the security measures taken for high-profile prisoners.
In the wake of the incident, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a probe and directed officials to take strict action against those responsible. The state government has also announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakh for the families of both Atiq Ahmed and his brother.
The shooting of Atiq Ahmed and his brother is yet another reminder of the rampant criminal activities and lawlessness in parts of Uttar Pradesh, where several gangsters hold sway and have political connections. The incident underscores the need for urgent action to be taken to curb the rise of organized crime in the state.