Atiq Ahmed's killers booked, one sustains bullet injury, hospitalised

Prayagraj: A case has been lodged against three shooters involved in murder of mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother and former MLA Khalid Azeem alias Ashraf at Shahganj police station on Sunday, police sources said.

Police sources said that the shooters have been identified as Lavlesh Tiwari, a resident of Banda district, Mohit alias Shani of Hamirpur and Arun Kumar Maurya from Kasganj district. "The trio has been booked for murder, attempted murder and under different sections of the Arms Act," they said.

Police sources said that the main shooter Lavlesh, who shot Atiq, sustained bullet injury in cross firing and has been admitted to Swaroop Rani hospital. "While the criminal antecedents of Lavlesh and Mohit are being checked, 14 cases are lodged against Arun, including that under Goonda Act, Arms Act, NDPS and Gangster Act," they said.

Police sources said that when quizzed the accused said that they wanted to make a name in the world of crime by eliminating Atiq and Ashraf gang. "The accused told the police that they followed the mafia in the guise of the media persons with the intention to kill Atiq and Ashraf since they got the information of their police custody remand, but didn't get the chance," they said.

Police sources said that the accused revealed that they executed their plan on Saturday night. "The accused said that they were caught as they failed to anticipate the police arrangement and due to the promptness of the cops," they said.

Sources meanwhile said that internet services have been suspended to prevent rumours and any untoward incident after the murder of Atiq and Ashraf. "The step has been taken after assessing sensitivity in many areas of the city. Additional police force has also been called in from nearby districts in the city for security," they said.

Sources said that PAC and RAF personnel have been deployed along with the local police.

It may be noted that Atiq and his brother Ashraf were shot dead while being taken to Colvin hospital for medical checkup on Saturday night. The assailants, who came in the guise of media persons, shot several rounds from the close range killing Atiq and Ashraf on the spot.

A policeman Maan Singh and a journalist from Lucknow were also injured in the shootout before the Colvin hospital and were admitted to the hospital.

Though it was claimed that the accused were nabbed by the police personnel report said that the assailants threw their weapons and surrendered. The incident took place when Atiq and Ashraf were in police custody remand for four days in connection with murder of Umesh Pal, the main witness in Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal.

Atiq and Ashraf were brought from Sabarmati jail in Ahmedabad and Bareilly respectively for questioning in the Umesh Pal murder case. In fact on March 28 Atiq was convicted and awarded life imprisonment by a Prayagraj court in connection with the kidnapping of Umesh Pal in the year 2006.

Sources said that the post mortem of Atiq and Ashraf is being done by a panel of doctors and the entire process is being videographed. "After the post mortem the bodies will be taken to their ancestral graveyard in Kasari-Masari for burial," they said.

It may be mentioned that taking cognizance of the Prayagraj incident Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered a high-level inquiry into the matter on Saturday night and also directed to constitute a three-member judicial commission. (UNI)