New Delhi: Gangster Atiq Ahmedwas shot at least nine times in his shocking murder on camera outside a hospital in Uttar Pradesh Saturday night, the autopsy report has found.
According to sources, at least nine bullet injuries were found in the dreaded gangster's body during the postmortem examination. Five bullets were reportedly recovered from the body of his brother Ashraf Ahmed, also shot dead outside the hospital in Prayagraj. Police had taken them to the hospital for a medical check-up.
Atiq Ahmed was shot once on the head and eight times on the chest and back, the autopsy has found. The headshot was captured on live TV as three shooters, all arrested now, rained bullets at the gangster-turned-politician and his brother, killing them on the spot.
According to sources, the autopsy found five bullet injuries in Ashraf's body -- one on the face and four on his back.
The post-mortem examination was conducted by a team of five doctors. The proceedings were also videographed to ensure proper probe into the high profile case.
Atiq Ahmed, a former MLA and MP, faced at least 100 criminal cases. He was in the headlines since February when Umesh Pal, a lawyer and a witness in the 2005 murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal, was gunned down outside his home in Prayagraj.
Atiq Ahmed, the prime accused in the BSP MLA's murder, was also named an accused in Umesh Pal's murder. Since 2019, Atiq Ahmed was at a Gujarat prison where he had been transferred after his alleged role in a businessman's kidnapping. The past couple of months saw Atiq Ahmed being brought to Prayagraj for court hearings and then taken back to Gujarat, closely pursued by mediapersons.
The gangster's 19-year-old son Asad, also an accused in the Umesh Pal murder case, was shot dead in an encounter by Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force on Thursday.
The gangster had repeatedly alleged that the Uttar Pradesh police planned to gun him down in a staged encounter. After a court date recently, he told the media, "It's because of you that I am safe."
Ironically, the gangster was talking to the press when his killers, also disguised as journalists, opened fire.
The Uttar Pradesh government has come under strong criticism over glaring lapses in the prisoners' security and the way police responded to the shooting. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a high-level probe into the incident. UP police have formed a three-member Special Investigation Team to probe the killings.