On Sunday, gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed expressed concern that he would be murdered while being transported to Prayagraj by Uttar Pradesh police from Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Central jail.
As he walked out of the Sabarmati jail, Ahmed told reporters waiting outside that a plot was being hatched to kill him under the guise of following court orders.
“Court Ke Kandhe Par Rakhkar Hume Maarna Chah Rahe Hai (They are using the court’s orders as pretext to get him killed),” Atiq Ahmed said as he was was being escorted inside a police van. A 45-member team of Uttar Pradesh police.
Ahmed, who was lodged in Sabarmati jail since 2019, is being brought back to Prayagraj in connection with an old kidnapping case of Umesh Pal in which he is the main accused.
The verdict in the kidnapping case will be delivered on March 28, according to an order issued by the Uttar Pradesh High Court. All of the defendants in the case, including Atiq Ahmed, will appear in court.
According to Prayagraj Police Commissioner Ramit Sharma, Atiq is being transferred to Prayagraj because he is scheduled to appear in court on March 28 in connection with a kidnapping case, the verdict of which is expected on the same day.
According to the detailed plan for the trip, the UP police have chosen a route that passes through Madhya Pradesh’s Shivpuri and Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi to bring the gangster back. The trip will take longer than 30 hours.
“Court has fixed March 28 as the date for the pronouncing the verdict in an old kidnapping case…All the accused have to be produced before the Court in this matter. To produce Mafia Atiq Ahmed before Court, an accused in this case, a Police team has been sent to Sabarmati jail,” the Commissioner said.
DG (prisons) Anand Kumar said that preparations have been made for Atiq in the Prayagraj jail. The jailed politician will be kept in a high-security barrack with a round-the-clock CCTV camera for surveillance.
“Atiq Ahmed will be kept in isolation in a high-security barrack at the jail. His cell will have a CCTV camera. Jail staff will be chosen and deployed on the basis of their records, they will have body-worn cameras,” Kumar said.
“Prayagraj Jail office and Jail HQ will monitor round the clock through a video wall. DIG Jail HQ is being sent to ensure all the arrangements at Prayagraj Jail,” he added.
