Ringed by cops, jailed gangster Atiq & brother shot dead on way to check-up in Prayagraj | India News
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The two shooters and an associate were taken into custody by police at the crime scene itself. They have been identified as Luvlesh Tiwari, Sunny and Arun Maurya, though other names were also being bandied about. A police constable and a journalist injured in the attack were in hospital receiving medical attention.
UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who called a high-level meeting after the sensational killings, asked officials to set up a three-member judicial commission to probe the incident. Atiq was a former MP and MLA.
Live updates: Mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad, brother Ashraf Ahmad shot dead; three arrested; CM orders probe
CrPC Section 144 has been clamped across the state and Rapid Action Force contingents have been moved in. The ACS (home) and the DGP have been instructed to rush to Prayagraj. Special DG (law and order) Prashant Kumar said a high alert has been issued across the state.
A police team had taken Atiq and Ashraf to Motilal Nehru Hospital around 10.35pm for a routine checkup. They got off the police jeep and were walking towards the hospital with over a dozen police officers and jawans around them when news channel crews tried to intercept them with questions. Atiq and Ashraf had barely started to speak when a youth, who was walking along with the mediapersons and was to Atiq’s left, took out a pistol and fired a shot into his left temple and another into the head. Atiq slumped to the ground.
In the next instant, Ashraf, who was handcuffed to Atiq, was also reportedly first shot from behind and then in the head. He, too, fell to the ground. The shooting left news crews scurrying for cover in the pitch dark area.
The sound of gunshots filled the air. Eyewitnesses said around 14 rounds were fired. The shooting lasted 22 seconds. The two shooters and their associate were overpowered immediately by the police. Two of them were heard shouting “Jai Shri Ram” while being held by policemen.
As the shooting stopped, news crews zoomed in and saw Atiq and Ashraf lying on the ground. The youths who had opened fire were seen with their hands in the air, apparently surrendering to the police. Three “sophisticated” pistols were found lying at the crime scene and were taken away in a police jeep. Eyewitnesses later said that the assailants had stood with mediapersons waiting at the hospital at least half an hour before Atiq and Ashraf were brought to the hospital. The three had arrived at the site on motorcycles, which were later found lying there.
Prayagraj police commissioner Ramit Sharma later confirmed that both Atiq and Ashraf had died and that three people had been taken into custody for the crime. “They were brought to the hospital as per mandatory legal requirements and doctors have pronounced them dead. One journalist of a news agency fell and was injured while trying to run for cover, while a constable, Man Singh, suffered a gunshot wound to the hand and was being treated in hospital,” he said.
Atiq Ahmed had a total of 103 criminal cases against him while Ashraf had 53 cases. Atiq was lodged at Sabarmati Jail and Ashraf at Bareilly jail. They had been brought to Prayagraj for questioning in the sensational shootout in which lawyer Umesh Pal and his police gunners were shot dead in broad daylight on February 24.
Atiq’s son Asad and aide Ghulam were shot dead in a police encounter on Friday. All of them were named in the Umesh Pal murder case. Now, six accused named in the case have been killed.
Watch Atiq Ahmad killed: Assailants caught on camera firing multiple rounds at Atiq, Ashraf
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