Uttar Pradesh Police shaped a particular investigation crew (SIT) on Monday to probe the sensational killing of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Khalid Azeem alias Ashraf two days in the past as authorities moved the three males accused within the homicide from Prayagraj to Pratapgarh district jail for “administrative and safety” causes.
Posing as journalists, three assailants sprayed Ahmad and his brother with bullets on the Motilal Nehru (Colvin) Divisional Hospital premises in Prayagraj metropolis round 1030pm on Saturday when police introduced the duo there for a routine well being examination. Ahmad and Ashraf had been speaking to the media and had been ringfenced by policemen when gunshots rang out and the homicide was captured reside on video.
A primary info report (FIR) registered on Sunday morning named the three males as Lavlesh Tiwari (22) of Banda, Mohit aka Shani (23) of Hamirpur and Arun Kumar Maurya (18) of Kasganj district. The federal government has already introduced a judicial fee to probe the crime that has sparked allegations of police laxity and a breakdown of law-and-order.
Particular director normal of police (regulation and order) Prashant Kumar stated the SIT was shaped on the directions of Prayagraj police commissioner Ramit Sharma.
“The investigation of the case pertaining to the homicide of Atiq Ahmad and his brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf is being carried out by the SHO of Shahganj police station,” stated an announcement issued by Sharma on Sunday evening. “…To be able to guarantee neutral and qualitative investigation, this investigation can be carried out by a particular investigation crew,” it added. In one other assertion, Uttar Pradesh director normal of police RK Vishwakarma stated a three-member crew of supervisors was additionally shaped to make sure qualitative investigation and time-bound motion.
The developments got here on a day the three assailants had been moved from Prayagraj to Pratapgarh, the place they reached at 2.10 pm, stated the workplace of director normal of prisons, Lucknow. At Pratapgarh jail, the three males had been stored separate from the opposite prisoners and monitored specifically, stated officers conscious of developments.
The three had been moved because the Naini Jail in Prayagraj presently holds many members of Atiq’s gang and his kin arrested in reference to the February 24 murders of lawyer Umesh Pal and his two police guards. Police officers stated these prisoners might pose a risk to the three accused.
In the meantime, previous metropolis areas of Prayagraj, together with Chakia, Roshanbagh, Rajruppur and Atala, remained tense however peaceable. Police forces proceed to stay deployed in these areas; web companies additionally remained suspended in Prayagraj for the second consecutive day.
The deaths got here two days after Ahmad’s son Asad was killed in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh police, which triggered a political storm with allegations that the state administration had staged the shootout. “Nahi le gaye to nahi gaye (they didn’t take us, so we didn’t go),” Ahmad was quoted as saying within the moments earlier than he was shot useless, in what was a reference to his son Asad’s funeral that was held earlier within the day. He had simply climbed out of a police van and was strolling, his brother handcuffed to him.
Ahmad – a former five-time state legislator and former Lok Sabha member who has 100 circumstances in opposition to him – and Ashraf had been each needed within the February 24 homicide of lawyer Umesh Pal, who was the prime witness within the 2005 killing of Bahujan Samaj Social gathering lawmaker Raju Pal. Ahmad was a chief accused within the 2005 case as effectively. This was the sixth demise of an accused within the February 24 case.
However questions mounted over potential lapses in association by the police, with Opposition events and his lawyer main the cost.
“Throughout a gathering in Bareilly jail, Ashraf had advised me {that a} senior police official had issued threats to him. The official, whose title couldn’t be disclosed, had threatened Ashraf that he can be taken out from jail inside 15 days and can be eradicated. Ashraf had advised me that he’ll write a letter to the CM, UP DGP, Chief Justice of India and Chief Justice of Allahabad excessive court docket, informing them concerning the risk issued to him,” stated his lawyer Vijay Mishra.