Asad Ahmed encounter: Ayodhaya's Hanumangarhi Mahant announces Rs 51,000 reward for UP STF

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said that the 'mafias' will be "wiped out" from the state. Talking to the mediapersons, Pathak said, "Strict action will be taken against those who support the criminals. No one is above the law. At present, most of the mafias of the state have come to their knees. UP ranks number one in the country in terms of punishing criminals".

The Enforcement Directorate said it has conducted raids on the premises of jailed gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his associates, following which it seized Rs 75 lakh in cash along with some documents pertaining to nearly 200 bank accounts and 50 shell entities. The ED said that cash transactions worth more than Rs 50 crore were also detected during the searches. The raids were conducted at 15 locations.

Ayodhaya's Hanumangarhi Mahant has announced a Rs 51,000 reward for UP STF for killing gangster Asad. The award money will be given to the STF team by mahant Raju Das.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati has demanded a high-level probe into the encounter of Asad Ahmad and his associate in Jhansi. In a tweet, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said: "Apprehensions of a repeat of the Vikas Dubey encounter has come true, and people were discussing about the 'truth' behind the encounter." Mayawati said that a high-level probe would set to rest all speculations, and bring the truth out in the open.

The pistol used by Asad during the encounter has been recovered by the Uttar Pradesh police. The Special Task Force (STF) termed the encounter as a "huge success." 

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also raised questions on the encounter, saying the BJP government is doing it on the basis of religion. "BJP govt is trying to encounter the constitution. What is the need of courts and judges and if they (BJP) have to resort to this," he asked attacking the CM Yogi Adityanath-led UP government. 

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav hit out at CM Yogi Adityanath-led UP government, saying the ruling dispensation in the state is trying to divert attention from the real issues by doing "fake encounters." "By doing false encounters, the BJP government is trying to divert attention from the real issues. The BJP does not believe in the court at all. Today's and recent encounters should also be thoroughly investigated and the culprits should not be spared. Power does not have the right to decide what is right or wrong. BJP is against brotherhood," Yadav wrote on Twitter. 

Addressing a press conference, Prashant Kumar, Special DG, Law & Order of Uttar Pradesh, said that the government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against the mafia. The result of this policy is before everyone today, he added. He further informed that as many as 183 criminals have been killed so far in exchange of fire with police. 

Another shooter Ghulam wanted in Umesh Pal murder case was also killed in encounter today by Uttar Pradesh Police Special Task Force (UPSTF) team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Navendu and Vimal in Jhansi. From the operation, sophisticated foreign-made weapons were recovered.