Atiq Ahmad killing Highlights: Bodies of mafia don, brother buried near son Asad's grave

UP finance minister Suresh Khanna said, "yeh asmani faisla hai (this is divine justice"

Unruly scenes broke out as bullets were fired. The face of the attackers was somewhat seen on the camera as they fired the shots from a very close range. Police arrested three attackers identified as Sunny, Lovelesh and Arun. They chanted Jai Shri Ram slogans, eyewitnesses said.

Atiq Ahmad was born in UP's Shravasti in 1962. He was married to Shaista Praveen, who is currently absconding. Atiq and Shaista had five sons – Ali, Umar, Ahmad, Asad, Ahzaan, and Abaan. Asad was killed in an alleged encounter with UP police on Friday in Jhansi. Read more

Atiq Ahmad was a dreaded name in Allahabad and his entry into the crime world took place as long as 1979. He had around 100 criminal cases against him. Read more

As the entire incident was captured on live television, it was seen that there were several cops accompanying Atiq and Ashraf. It raises questions about how planned the murder was as the shots did not miss the targets. The attackers posed as media personnel and entered the hospital premises, reports said. It is believed that they came on three bikes and did not try to escape.

Senior BSP leader and MLC, Bhimrao Ambedkar said the Supreme Court should take suo motto cognizance of the killing of Atiq and Ashraf in police custody at Prayagraj and order a probe into the incident. The incident clearly shows that people are not safe in UP and not even in police custody, he said.

Atiq and Ashraf were asked for their statement. As they were walking, they said, 'Statement on what?'. Atiq was asked to comment on his absence at his son's last rites. "Nahi le gaye toh nahi gaye," Atiq Ahmad said. "Main baat ye hai ki Guddu Muslim..." Ashraf said when the first bullet aimed at Atiq's head was heard.

Samajwadi Party (SP) national president Akhilesh Yadav in a tweet said, "This is the height of crime in Uttar Pradesh and criminals are so emboldened. If those who are in police security ring could be shot dead, then what about people's safety and security? This is leading to an atmosphere of terror among people; it seems some people are deliberately doing all this"

The assailants opened fire at Atiq and Ashraf while they were speaking to the media in presence of security personnel. Read more (Warning: Disturbing visuals, please use discretion while watching)

Atiq Ahmad and Ashraf were speaking to media personnel and was in the middle of a sentence when they were killed. Read more

Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf Ahmad were shot dead at close range by three men posing as journalists during a media interaction while being escorted by police to a medical college in Prayagraj for a checkup on Saturday night. Read more

Ahmad’s lawyer Vijay Mishra said the incident was shocking. “The incident is clear failure of the police in ensuring their security,” he said.

The bullet-riddled bodies of Ahmad and Ashraf, who was also known as Khalid Azeem, were taken away from the spot as tension gripped the area after the sensational crime, PTI reported.

The deaths came two days after Ahmad’s son Asad was killed in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh police, which triggered a political storm with allegations that the state administration had staged the shootout.

Three people identified as Arun Maurya, Lavlesh Tiwari and Sunny, were detained, people aware of the matter said, but no official statement on their names was issued till the time of going to press.

Police said three assailants, possibly masquerading as reporters, were involved and the brothers died on the spot.

“Three assailants were present at the scene amidst journalists and opened fire from a close range, killing them on the spot. The three have been nabbed,” said circle officer Shwetabh Pandey.

Mafia-politician and former MP Atiq Ahmad and his younger brother Khalid Azeem aka Ashraf were shot dead in Motilal Nehru (Colvin) Divisional Hospital premises on Saturday night. The incident happened when the duo were being taken for the daily medical examination that has been mandated by the court while awarding their police remand. Both were hit by multiple bullets and died on the spot.

Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad whose son Asad was killed in an encounter on Thursday was shot dead in Prayagraj on Saturday. Read more