Former Indian politician Atiq Ahmed, along with his brother Khalid Azeem alias Ashraf Azeem, were shot dead live on TV yesterday, 15 April.
In Prayagraj (Allahabad, UP), Atiq Ahmed, who was being escorted by police, was speaking to media when a pistol was pulled close to his head in Prayagraj. Three individuals who had been pretending to be journalists soon surrendered and were brought into prison after the bullets were fired on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, Ahmed’s teenage son Asad and his aide Ghulam were killed in an encounter on Thursday, 13 April.
Atiq Ahmed was accused in the killing of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal murder in 2005 and in Umesh Pal murder in 2023. In the incident, the UP Police has arrested a total of 3 shooters.
Soon Section 144 of CrPC was imposed on Sunday in all the districts by the Uttar Pradesh Government.
Who killed Ahmed and Azeem?
The two were shot and murdered in Prayagraj when three individuals opened fire on them close to a medical institution. Atiq and Ashraf collapsed on the ground soon after they were shot on camera.
While being led by around a dozen police officers for a normal medical examination on Saturday, April 15 night, the 62-year-old former Samajwadi Party MP was assassinated a few hours after his son Asad Ahmed received his final rites by him. The Prayagraj shooting took place around 10:30 pm and was captured live on camera, as media persons were following the handcuffed duo being taken to the Calvin Hospital.
“Shooters were posing as journalists. As Atiq reached for a check-up, they were surrounded by other journalists and got close to Atiq and his brother. One was having a camera and was posing as a cameraman. While one was roaming with a mike where it was written NCR News. Third was assisting both,” according to a media report citing police sources.
The shooters were identified as Lavlesh Tiwari, Sunny, and Arun Maurya, and all have been apprehended by the UP Police. They all belong to three different districts in Uttar Pradesh. Sunny Singh is from Hamirpur, Lovlesh Tiwari is from Banda, and Arun Maurya resides in Kasganj.
Why did they kill Atiq and Ashraf?
When shooters questioned about their intention of killing Atiq and Ashraf, they admitted that killing Atiq and Ashraf was mostly done to establish themselves as criminals. They also said that they had intended to kill Atiq and Ashraf ever since they learned that they were being held in custody, and that they finally had the chance to do it on Saturday.
How did they kill Ahmed and Azeem?
The three assailants used highly sophisticated Zigana pistols which are banned in India.
TISAS, a Turkish gun manufacturer, makes the Zigana semi-automatic pistols. The production of the said pistols started in 2001 and is one of the first pistols in Turkey with an original design.
Political reaction on Atiq and his brother’s murder
Reacting to the killings of Atiq Ahmed and his brother, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said that she was “shocked by the brazen anarchy and total collapse of law & order in Uttar Pradesh”.
“The constitution of the country has been made by those people who fought for freedom. This constitution and law of ours have got the highest position. No one can be allowed to play with the Constitution,” said Kharge.
“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 & order. Those celebrating encounter-raj are equally responsible for this murder,” commented Asaduddin Owaisi.
“There must be a thorough probe on murder of Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf…..strict action will be taken against the murderers,” said BJP MP Subrat Pathak.
Political reaction on Atiq and his brother’s murder
Reacting to the killings of Atiq Ahmed and his brother, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said that she was “shocked by the brazen anarchy and total collapse of law & order in Uttar Pradesh”.
“The constitution of the country has been made by those people who fought for freedom. This constitution and law of ours have got the highest position. No one can be allowed to play with the Constitution,” said Kharge.
“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 & order. Those celebrating encounter-raj are equally responsible for this murder,” commented Asaduddin Owaisi.
“There must be a thorough probe on murder of Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf…..strict action will be taken against the murderers,” said BJP MP Subrat Pathak.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra commented:
