Umesh Pal murder: Five Atiq aides held with 10 firearms, ₹74.62 lakh - Hindustan Times
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Umesh Pal murder: Five Atiq aides held with 10 firearms, 74.62 lakh

By, Prayagraj
Mar 21, 2023 11:18 PM IST

The seizure was made from Atiq Ahmad’s now razed old office building at Karbala under Khuldabad police of U.P.’s Prayagraj

Prayagraj Police in Uttar Pradesh arrested five henchmen of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and recovered 74.62 lakh cash, 10 country-made firearms, ammunition and a cash counting machine from Atiq’s now razed old office building at Karbala under Khuldabad police station in Sangam city on Tuesday, police said. The recovery was made on the confession of two of those arrested, they added.

The arrested accused with seized firearms and cash in police custody. (HT photo)
The arrested accused with seized firearms and cash in police custody. (HT photo)

The arrested ones were allegedly involved in the conspiracy of murders of lawyer Umesh Pal and his two police guards last month and provided help to the assailants through different means. Confirming it, commissioner of police, Prayagraj, Ramit Sharma said the police made the arrests from near Jairampur area of Dhoomanganj here following a tip-off.

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Those arrested were identified as Niaz Ahmad of Dhoomanganj, Qais Ahmad, Mohd Sajar of Jayantipur area of Dhoomanganj, Rakesh Kumar of Pashim Sharira area of Kaushambi district and Arshad Khan aka Arshad Katra of Colonelganj area, Sharma added.

Preliminary questioning from them revealed that they were involved in the conspiracy to murder Umesh Pal and helped in keeping an eye on his movements before the crime was committed. Cash 2.25 lakh and six mobiles were recovered from the arrested accused, he said.

On confession of Qais Ahmad and Rakesh Kumar, police raided Atiq’s office at Karbala and recovered two bags containing cash and firearms hidden under a sofa. A cash counting machine was also recovered from the spot. The total cash recovered from the office and the accused was counted to be 74.62 lakh, the commissioner of police said.

Five semi-automatic pistols and five country-made single shot pistols were recovered from one of the bags along with 112 live cartridges of different calibre. Niaz Ahmad spoke to Atiq Ahmad multiple times through internet calling from Asad’s mobile. At Atiq’s behest, Niaz kept tabs on Umesh Pal’s movements and timing of his arrival at and departure from the district court. Niaz was among those who took part in meetings held at Atiq’s home, Sharma added.

Mohd Sajar lived near Umesh Pal’s house in Jayantipur locality and used to give information to Asad about Umesh’s activities through an iPhone provided to him by Asad, he said.

Qais Ahmad was the driver of Atiq’s family for 16 years while Rakesh Kumar had been working as accountant with the family for the past 19 years. The duo had hidden the cash and firearms at Atiq’s office. They were being questioned further to ascertain if the same firearms were used in gunning down Umesh Pal, the commissioner of police said.

Sharma further said Arshad Katra was among those involved in the conspiracy and his role in the sensational murders was still to be ascertained. Atiq’s office at Karbala was demolished during a crackdown on his gang in September 2020. Earlier, it was razed during the BSP regime but was rebuilt by Atiq.

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