UP Cops Face 5 Big Questions After Atiq Ahmed, Brother's Murders On Camera

Around 10.30 pm this Saturday, dreaded gangster Atiq Ahmed was speaking to mediapersons outside a hospital in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Suddenly, a gun appeared next to his head.

What followed was the sound of gunshots and visuals of Atiq and his brother Ashraf collapsing to the ground. Then, the shooters entered the frame and pumped several bullets at the brothers before the cops eventually overpowered them. By then, Atiq and Ashraf lay dead in a pool of blood.

The shocking incident raised critical questions regarding the cops' security arrangements for the high-profile prisoners and their response to the shooting.

Here are five big questions the cops face: 

• Atiq and Ashraf, both accused in the February 24 murder of Umesh Pal outside his home, had been taken to the hospital for a medical check-up. Questions are now being raised on why they were taken for the check-up late in the night.
• The police vehicle transporting the dreaded gangster was parked outside the hospital gate and the two had walked from there. For a high-profile prisoner such as Ahmed, who was being constantly followed by the press, it is surprising that police did not take the vehicle right up to the hospital to reduce exposure.
• A team of about 20 policemen had accompanied Atiq and Ashraf to the hospital. Questions are being raised on how they failed to protect the prisoners from three shooters. The killers shot Atiq at least nine times and pumped five bullets into Ashraf's body -- according to the autopsy report -- before they were overpowered.
• The shooters fired as many as 20 rounds, but not a single bullet was fired by the policemen. Atiq and Ashraf, both handcuffed, fell to the ground after headshots. The visuals show the shooters closing in raining bullets on them. Still, not a shot was fired by the cops. 
• The killers -- identified as Arun Maurya, Lovelesh Tiwari and Sunny Singh -- reportedly came disguised as mediapersons and were armed with imported guns. A key question is why they were not searched before they approached the high-profile prisoners. The killers were so close that the first shot fired was a headshot at point-blank range. This shot blew away Atiq's turban and he collapsed to the ground.