New Delhi: Atiq Ahmed, the Uttar Pradesh gangster who faced at least 100 criminal cases, and his brother Ashraf Ahmed were shot dead on camera while they were being taken for a medical check-up in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj on Saturday.
Here are the updates on the big story:
Request In Supreme Court Seeking Probe In UP Gangster, Brother's Killing
A day after gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf were shot dead under police escort, a plea was filed in the Supreme Court on Sunday seeking the constitution of an independent expert committee headed by a former Supreme Court judge to probe the killings.
The plea, filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari, also sought an inquiry into the 183 encounters that have taken place in Uttar Pradesh since 2017.
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Former Judges, Top Cop In Judicial Commission To Probe Atiq Ahmed KillingThe Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday constituted a three-member judicial commission to probe into the killing of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Khalid Azeem alias Ashraf.
The commission will be headed by high court judge (retired) Arvind Kumar Tripathi, and retired judge Brijesh Kumar Soni and former DGP Subesh Kumar Singh will be its members, officials said here. Read
here How Atiq Ahmed's Key Vote In 2008 Helped Save UPA GovernmentSix criminal-politicians, including Atiq Ahmad who was shot dead Saturday, were furloughed from different jails in just 48 hours with little fanfare in 2008, with a book on "Baahubalis" claiming their votes were crucial to save the embattled UPA government and India's civil nuclear deal with the US.
The Opposition had brought a no-confidence motion against the Manmohan Singh dispensation and at stake was his United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and the nuclear deal. Read here Atiq Ahmed Had Admitted To Having Links With Pakistan's ISI, Lashkar-e-Taiba
Gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed, who was shot dead along with his brother at point-blank range, had admitted during questioning by police that he had links with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence and militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, according to an FIR.
UPDATE: The three shooters, who were arrested after shooting Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf in Prayagraj, will be presented before a magistrate today.
3 Attackers Posed As Journalists, Identified As Lovlesh, Sunny And Arun MauryaThe three attackers have been identified by the police as Lovlesh, Sunny and Arun Maurya. They came posing as journalists and shot Ahmed and his brother Ashraf at point-blank range while they were speaking to reporters in Prayagraj.
Sitaram Yechury Targets "Encounter Killings, Bulldozer Politics" After Atiq Ahmed's Killing
Stay Alert: Yogi Adityanath Instructs Cops In Meeting After Gangster's Killing
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in a late-night meeting instructed the state police officers to be on high alert and ensure law and order are maintained across the state after mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and brother Ashraf were shot dead in Prayagraj.
"UP CM Yogi Adityanath has instructed Police officers to be on alert, ensure peace, law and order are maintained in the state and the public doesn't face any trouble," according to the Chief Minister office's statement.
In this regard, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also appealed to the public to avoid paying attention to rumours about the incident.
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"Anyone Who Will See The Video...": Rashtriya Lok Dal Chief Jayant Chaudhary
"Nobody is sympathising with Atiq Ahmad because a criminal should be punished. But anyone who will see this video will question if we are a democracy. Every criminal has the right to be heard in court and be convicted there. But you can see they were killed in police custody in the open," Rashtriya Lok Dal Chief Jayant Chaudhary said.
The Uttar Pradesh police conducted a flag march in Lucknow's Husainabad after Atiq Ahmed, his brother's killing. Large gatherings have been banned in the state.
Vijay Mishra, the lawyer of the murdered gangster, told NDTV that someone from a crowd of people fired at Atiq Ahmed and his brother from close range. Mr Mishra said he was standing beside them when they were shot dead.
Section 144 has been imposed in the entire state of Uttar Pradesh
Chief Minister Yogi Minister has taken cognisance of the situation and has constituted a three-member judicial commission to probe the killing of Atiq Ahmed, his brother.
"Perfect Example Of Law And Order Failure": Asaduddin Owaisi
"Atiq and his brother were killed while in police custody and were handcuffed. Slogans of JSR were also raised. Their murder is a perfect example of Yogi's big failure of law and order. Those celebrating encounter-raj are equally responsible for this murder," AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi tweeted.
The Uttar Pradesh police have issued an alert for the entire state, sources said.
The alleged shooters were masquerading as journalists, the police said.
One police constable and one journalist have been injured in the incident and the bodies of Atiq Ahmed and his brother have been sent for post mortem.
Following the death of Atiq Ahmed and his brother, section 144 has been imposed In Prayagraj and large gatherings have been banned. Internet services have been suspended in the region as well.
On Camera, Gangster Atiq Ahmed Shot Dead In Presence Of CopsVisuals of the incident show Atiq Ahmed and his brother walking while talking to reporters when someone shoots the gangster on the head. The next moment his brother is also shot dead. Read here Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav condemned the killing and criticised the Yogi Adityanath government over the lack of rule of law.
Vijay Mishra, the lawyer of the murdered gangster, told NDTV that someone from a crowd of people fired at Atiq Ahmed and his brother from close range. Mr Mishra said he was standing beside them when they were shot dead.
Three people have been arrested, the police said.