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:
The bodies of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Khalid Azeem alias Ashraf were handed over to the family members after post-mortem on Sunday for performing the funeral rites.
A day after Umesh Pal murder case accused Asad, who fell to police bullets, was buried at the Kasari Masari graveyard here, two more graves were dug on Sunday for his father - gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad - and uncle Asraf.
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.
The shocking murder of Atiq Ahmed in front of TV cameras, and surrounded by cops, has sent the administration scrambling to tighten security arrangements. Internet has been snapped in some areas, and the Chief Minister is holding high-level meetings.
Mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed's killing is perhaps Uttar Pradesh's most shocking incident in years given the clout he enjoyed, particularly in eastern Uttar Pradesh, even from prison.
Alleging that the BJP was running the government in Uttar Pradesh by "rule by gun" and not rule of law, Mr Owaisi said this had been continuing ever since the BJP government was formed in 2017.
The killers arrived in Prayagraj two days ago and stayed at a lodge.
BJP has turned India into a mafia republic.
- Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) April 16, 2023
I will say it here, I will say it abroad, I will say it everywhere because it is the truth.
2 men in custody shot dead in front of a zillion policemen & cameras - this is the death of the rule of law.
All three have criminal records, sources said. Their families have said they have nothing to do with them.
Three men have been arrested for the sensational murder of Uttar Pradesh gangster Atiq Ahmed and his brother while being escorted by the police late Saturday.
Jungle Raj under BJP Yogi govt in UP.
- Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) April 15, 2023
It's USP: Encounter killings, Bulldozer politics & patronising criminals.
Enforce rule of law; apprehend perpetrators & punish them stringently.https://t.co/jesSAgTuMA
#WATCH | UP: Police patrolling in Mathura after the incident of Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf shot dead pic.twitter.com/GQPqTZ5tDw
- ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) April 15, 2023
#WATCH | UP: Police conducts flag march in Lucknow's Husainabad after the incident of Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf shot dead pic.twitter.com/PkNQmS24Vi
- ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2023
Gangster Atiq Ahmed and his brother, flanked by several policemen, were interacting with reporters when a hand appeared out of nowhere and shot the two in the head. The men, who were handcuffed, collapsed right there, showed a video from the scene.
Gangster Atiq Ahmed and his brother were shot dead while they were speaking to media in police custody, soon after a UP minister tweeted about "sin and virtue".
Visuals 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
उप्र में अपराध की पराकाष्ठा हो गयी है और अपराधियों के हौसले बुलंद है। जब पुलिस के सुरक्षा घेरे के बीच सरेआम गोलीबारी करके किसीकी हत्या की जा सकती है तो आम जनता की सुरक्षा का क्या। इससे जनता के बीच भय का वातावरण बन रहा है, ऐसा लगता है कुछ लोग जानबूझकर ऐसा वातावरण बना रहे हैं।
- Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) April 15, 2023