New Delhi [India], April 16 (ANI): Taking cognizance of the killing of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj last night, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided to prepare Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the safety and security of journalists, top sources said on Sunday.
The step is being taken after three assailants posing as journalists killed Atiq and Ashraf in Prayagraj, the source pointed out, adding the decision has been taken under the guidance of Home Minister Amit Shah and the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Atiq and Ashraf were shot dead in Prayagraj in full media glare on Saturday night. Uttar Pradesh Police on Sunday said the assailants of the jailed gangster and his brother posed as journalists at the scene of the crime. “The shooters were posing as journalists. As Atiq reached for a check-up, they were surrounded by other journalists and got close to Atiq and his brother. One was having a camera and was posing as a cameraman. Another was roaming around with a mike on which were inscribed the words NCR News. The third was assisting both,” a police source said.
“As Atiq reached the hospital, reporters started questioning them after 2 lines, one guy fired on his head from very close and Atiq fell down. Another two guys also threw the camera and mike and started firing,” the source added.
Atiq Ahmed was accused in the 2005 BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case and also in the Umesh Pal murder case in February this year. The shooting that occurred around 10 pm and was caught on camera as media persons were following the handcuffed duo, who were being taken to the hospital by police for a medical checkup. (ANI)
UP: SIT to recreate crime scene in Atiq, Ashraf murder case
Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 18 (ANI): The Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the murder of Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf will soon recreate the crime scene as part of its ongoing investigation, revealed sources. The SIT team will also investigate how many policemen tried to nab the attackers and how much time it took to control them.
On Sunday, nearly two days after three persons posing as media persons gunned down gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf in Prayagraj, the Uttar Pradesh police announced formation of two special investigating teams (SITs) to probe the brazen killings. The first SIT, to be headed by Additional DCP (crime) Satish Chandra, has been formed to probe the murder case registered at Shahganj police station, according to an order issued by Prayagraj Commissioner of Police, Ramit Sharma on Sunday.
The second SIT has been put together to supervise the first. This SIT will be headed by ADG Prayagraj Zone Bhanu Bhaskar, and would also have Prayagraj Commissioner of Police and the director of Forensic Science Laboratory as its members, stated an order issued by the Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police, RK Vishwakarma on Sunday. Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf Ahmad were shot dead by men posing as journalists on Saturday night, while they were being taken for a medical examination in Prayagraj. Both the gangsters collapsed at the spot after being shot close to point-blank range.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognizance of the incident and ordered the setting up of a judicial commission in the matter.
All three assailants — Arun Maurya, Sunny Singh and Lovelesh Tiwari — were sent to 14-day judicial custody by the district court on Sunday. The last rites of gangster-turned-politician and his brother took place at a family graveyard in the Kasari Masari area of Prayagraj on Sunday.
Atiq Ahmed was accused in the 2005 murder of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal and also in the killing of a key witness in that case, Umesh Pal, in February this year. (ANI)
SC to take up plea seeking inquiry into killing of Atiq, Ashraf on April 24
New Delhi [India], April 18 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to list on April 24 the plea seeking to constitute an Independent Expert Committee under the chairmanship of a Former Supreme Court judge to inquire into the killing of Atiq and Ashraf, amid police presence. Advocate Vishal Tiwari mentioned before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud seeking an urgent hearing of his plea. The top court listed it for April 24.
Advocate Tiwari mentioned in SC’s urgent hearing of his plea seeking to constitute an Independent Expert Committee under the chairmanship of a former Supreme Court judge. Advocate Tiwari moved a plea in Supreme Court seeking to constitute an Independent Expert Committee under the Chairmanship of a former Supreme Court Justice to inquire into the 183 encounters, which had occurred since 2017 as stated by Uttar Pradesh Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) and also inquire into the brazen murder of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his Ashraf while in police custody.
Atiq and Ashraf were shot dead while they were taken to a hospital in Prayagraj on Sunday, in heavy police presence. Advocate Vishal Tiwari, in his public interest litigation, also sought a direction to unearth the fake encounters by directing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate, collect and record the evidence in the Kanpur Bikru Encounter case 2020, in which Vikas Dubey and his aides were killed by police in the encounter as the inquiry commission could not record the evidence in a rebuttal of police version and filed the inquiry report in absence of that. “The daredevils which Uttar Pradesh police has tried to become,” the petition stated.
The petitioner said his PIL is against the violation of rule of law, alleging that oppressive brutality was being perpetrated by Uttar Pradesh Police. The petitioner apprised the court that he approached it in a matter pertaining to the Kanpur encounter with Vikas Dubey, saying that a similar incident was repeated by Uttar Pradesh police in the encounter killing of Asad, son of Atiq Ahmad.
The petitioner said that such incidents are a severe threat to the democracy and rule of law, and are establishments of anarchy and, prima facie, development of a police-state. He also mentioned that extra-judicial killings or fake police encounters have been condemned under the law and such things cannot exist in a democratic society, adding that the police cannot be allowed to become a mode of delivering final justice or become a punishing authority. “The power of punishment is only vested in the Judiciary. The police when becomes ‘DARE DEVILS’ then the entire rule of law collapses and generates the fear in the mind of people against the police which is very dangerous for the Democracy and this also results into further crime,” the petitioner said.
On April 15, the day they were shot dead in full media glare, Atiq and Ashraf were in the custody of UP Police and the onus was on them to ensure the safety of the gangster siblings, the lawyer siad. The lawyer said, however, the assailants, disguised as media professionals, shot Atiq and Ashraf dead in front of the police personnel. “This is a direct attack on Indian democracy and rule of law. Later the assailants were arrested but during the commission of the offence, there was no protection or retaliation by the police. Such imposes a question on the transparency and proves this matter as a pre-planned attack with no redressal for the accused,” Advocate Vishal Tiwari said in his petition. (ANI)
