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He started from Chakia, a small self-urban pocket in Prayagraj, but soon captured a good chunk of the historic Civil Lines in the city. He began his tentacles to adjoining parts of Prayagraj, and even Lucknow. In 2015, he tried to capture a big tract of land, belonging to a well-known trader of the city whose shop was the destination for fashion aficionados. Cops then posted in Lucknow say, Atiq himself was present at the site when his men tried to take possession of the land.
04:06
Atiq Ahmed fears for his life, moves back to Prayagraj from Sabarmati jail
When police intervened after the trader mustered courage to lodge a complaint, the gang lord barged into his hotel, got all the CCTV cameras switched off and threatened him using choicest of expletives – ‘Click my photo and send it to whoever you want. You won’t get back the possession of your land’.
He tried to repeat the same with Lucknow’s trader Mohit Jaiswal in 2018. His men abducted him and presented him before the don inside the Deoria Jail, where Jaiswal was assaulted and made to sign the papers of his property worth Rs 40 crore for a pittance . But by then the regime had changed. Ashraf was arrested in Jaiswal case and Supreme Court ordered Atiq’s transfer from Deoria to Sabarmati jail in 2019 .
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UP: Atiq Ahmed, brother Ashraf reach Dhoomanganj Police Station in Prayagraj
He started his political career in 1989 by becoming an MLA from Allahabad West, as an Independent. After he retained his seat in the next two assembly elections as an Independent, the Samajwadi Party opened its doors to him. In 1996, Atiq won from Allahabad West the fourth time, as an SP candidate.
He was also booked by Lucknow’s Hazratganj police in 1995, in connection with the infamous guest-house incident. It involved the attack on the complex where the then CM Mayawati was staying with her MLAs.
However, after the SP showed Atiq the door in 1998, he joined the Apna Dal won the Allahabad West seat in 2002 assembly elections on its ticket. In 2003, Atiq returned to the SP fold, and in 2004, won the Phulpur Lok Sabha constituency. In 2012 assembly elections, Atiq again tried his luck from Apna Dal from the same seat but lost to BSP’s Puja Pal (widow of Raju Pal). It is said, being in jail when he moved HC to seek permission to campaign, several judges recused themselves.
04:58
Rise and fall of Atiq Ahmed: How Umesh Pal’s murder case put spotlight on gangster-turned-politician
He also contested the Lok Sabha elections in 2014 from Shravasti on the SP ticket but lost. Even in face of repeated defeats, Atiq’s political ambitions were far from over. He filed nomination from the Varanasi constituency against PM Narendra Modi in 2019 from jail but managed to get only 855 votes.
Before being killed, he was named as the kingpin of interstate gang no. 227 in police files. Atiq’s brother Ashraf had 53 cases in his name; of which, he was acquitted in one while others were under trial. Atiq’s sons have eight cases against them; seven of them are under trial while one is still being probed by the police. Atiq’s wife Shaista, who is on the run, has four cases.
Charges have been framed in two cases of Atiq’s son Ali Ahmed, who has five cases in all – one is under investigation, while two others are under trial. Similarly, a case against Atiq’s other son Umar Ahmed is pending in a CBI court, and one is under investigation by the police. Atiq’s son Asad, who was killed in an encounter with UP STF on Friday, had one case against him.
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