Atiq Ahmad killing: Supreme Court asks UP govt to put on record measures taken

The Supreme Court sought a report from the Uttar Pradesh government on the killing of gangster Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf on April 15.

The Supreme Court on Friday sought a report from the Uttar Pradesh government on the killing of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf at Prayagraj hospital on April 15. The court order came on a PIL filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari demanding a judicial probe into the killing and similar killings in the state.

Ashraf and Atiq Ahmad were shot dead on April 15. (ANI) (HT_PRINT)

The court asked the state government to inform the steps taken to investigate the deaths and an encounter of his son prior to the incident. The matter will be heard after three weeks.

Advocate Vishal Tiwari had mentioned before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud seeking an urgent hearing of his plea. Tiwari mentioned in the court that his plea sought a probe into the extra-judicial killings in Uttar Pradesh.

In his plea, Tiwari sought to constitute an independent expert committee under the chairmanship of a former Supreme Court judge to inquire into the killing of Atiq and Ashraf.

He also moved a plea in the Supreme Court seeking to constitute an independent expert committee to inquire into the 183 encounters which had occurred since 2017 as stated by the Uttar Pradesh Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) and also to inquire into the police custody murder of Atiq and Ashraf.

Atiq and Ashraf were shot dead while they were being taken to a hospital in Prayagraj on April 15 night amid police presence.