The Prayagraj court in Uttar Pradesh sentenced three shooters who killed gangster Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf last night to 14 days in judicial custody on Sunday. They appeared in court earlier today. Arun Maurya, Sunny Singh, and Lovelesh Tiwari were identified as the three shooters who fired at Atiq and Ashraf while they were interacting with the media while being taken for a medical checkup.
After being shot at nearly point-blank range, both gangsters collapsed on the spot. Following that, internet access was suspended in Prayagraj. It has, however, been restored in some areas of the district. After the gangsters were killed in police custody, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath convened a high-level meeting last night and ordered a judicial investigation into the incident.
In two months, a three-member judicial inquiry committee investigating the murder of his brother, Atiq Ahmed, will report to the UP government. Retired Justice Arvind Kumar Tripathi of the Allahabad High Court will chair the committee, which will also include retired IPC officer Subesh Kumar Singh and retired District Judge Brijesh Kumar Soni.
Security has been increased in the city following the deaths of Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf in Prayagraj yesterday. Section 144 of the CrPC was imposed in all of Uttar Pradesh’s districts.
“The situation is normal in all districts. Police are on alert,” Praveen Kumar, IG Ayodhya range said.
Atiq Ahmad was charged in the 2005 murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal, as well as the murder of Umesh Pal in February of this year. After Atiq and his brother were shot dead, all three assailants were apprehended and reported to the police.
“Three people have been arrested and they are being questioned. A journalist was also injured as he fell down and a constable sustained a bullet injury,” Prayagraj Police Commissioner Ramit Sharma said earlier.
According to Uttar Pradesh Police, the shooters who killed Atiq and Ashraf were posing as journalists at the scene of the incident.
“Crime has reached its peak in UP and the morale of the criminals is high. When someone can be killed openly despite being surrounded by a security cordon, one can imagine the state of the general public. Due to this (alleged encounter killings), an ambiance of fear is being created among the public. It seems that some people are deliberately creating such an ambiance,” Akhilesh Yadav tweeted.
