The shooting spree for the killing of Umesh Pal in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj on February 24 has come as a turning point for the Ahmed family. Amidst tight police security, three Islamists shot dead Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf Ahmed. Significantly, both the brothers were prime accused in the Umesh Pal murder case… The planning of the two was carried out by Atiq’s son Asad Ahmed, who has faced the police earlier. So far 6 accused including Atiq brothers have been killed in the Umesh Pal murder case. Umesh Pal was an eyewitness to the killing of BSP MLA Raju Pal, who was shot dead by Asad and his accomplices outside his residence in Prayagraj. This shootout on February 24 was no less than the shooting of a film. CCTV footage of the incident showed horrific gunfire and shelling, with Asad Ahmed himself seen firing at Umesh Pal. Along with Umesh Pal, his 2 security guards were also killed. The day after the shooting-bomb blast, Umesh’s wife filed a case against Atiq, Ashraf, Atiq’s wife Shaista Parveen, two sons, assistants Guddu Muslim and Ghulam and nine others. After this, the Prayagraj police started investigating the matter. Three days after Umesh Pal’s murder, Prayagraj police killed Asad’s driver and his companions in an encounter on February 27. Accused Usman was also arrested by the police. The encounter took place on March 6 in Prayagraj itself.
The Prayagraj police got a big success when Asad Ahmed, the son of Atiq, the accused of Umesh Pal’s murder, and Ghulam, the other accused, came to know. When the police arrived, Asad and Ghulam were trying to run away. They were on a bike and allegedly fired at least 40 rounds at the police team. Finally on April 13, the police team had an encounter with both of them. Pictures of Asad and Ghulam after the encounter also surfaced. He fell from the bike after being shot. The bike was also found lying next to Asad’s dead body. Both Asad and Ghulam were also seen holding pistols, with both their fingers on the trigger. Now the opposition is also raising questions on the killing of Atiq brothers.
Atiq Ahmed has also been a Member of Parliament from the Samajwadi Party. He was brought to Prayagraj from Gujarat’s Sabarmati Jail to be produced in court. In the Umesh Pal murder case, the court remanded both the brothers and they were in police custody. The police were taking the two brothers to hospital for a medical check-up after an operation to search for alleged weapons in the forests when three gunmen opened fire on them. All the three attackers who fired at Atiq Brothers surrendered to the police at the same time. It is being said that along with the firing, the accused also raised slogans of Jai Shri Ram. The three accused have been identified as Lovelesh Tiwari, Sunny and Arun Maurya.
Atiq’s son Asad was buried in Kasari Masari Cemetery. His burial was attended by very few people and a heavy police presence was also deployed during it. Atiq was being interrogated three kilometers from the graveyard, but he could not see his son’s face. Even at the last moment when the reporter asked him why he didn’t go to his son’s funeral, Atiq replied, the police didn’t take him. Shortly after, an assailant shot him in the head and he fell on the ground. And the important chapters of the entire Atiq Bandhu were over.
