Atiq Ahmed son Asad killed in encounter Umesh Pal murder case Akhilesh Mayawati wants probe Umesh wife praise CM Yogi UP

Image Source : PTI Jailed mafia Atiq Ahmed and his brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf being produced in a court in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case, in Prayagraj

Asad Ahmed encounter: Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed's son Asad and an accomplice Ghulam, both wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case, were killed in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Police near Jhansi on Thursday, officials said. According to UP Police, all attempts were made to arrest them but Asad and his accomplice retaliated. The cops also fired in self-defense in which both the accused were killed. The alleged encounter took place apparently at the time Atiq Ahmed was being presented in the Prayagraj court in the same case. The court has remanded the gangster and his brother to 14-day judicial custody. The court has also allowed a 5-day remand for the UP Police to question him. The encounter took place between 12-1 pm on April 13. Asad Ahmed was caught on CCTV when Umesh Pal was killed and had been on the run for the past 50 days, police said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath lauded the UP STF team which was involved in the gunfire and also took a high-level meeting with regard to law & order situation in the state.
Umesh Pal's wife Jaya also praised the efforts of the UP government in its crackdown against the mafias & gangsters and described CM Yogi as a father figure to her. "He has punished the killer of his daughter's husband. I express my gratitude... justice has been done."
However, Opposition leaders including Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi slammed the Yogi government and questioned the encounter.
SP and the BSP have demanded an investigation into the Jhansi shootout, suggesting that the state’s Special Task Force staged a fake encounter. "By conducting fake encounters, the BJP government is trying to divert attention from real issues. The BJP does not believe in courts at all. Today's and other recent encounters should be thoroughly investigated and the culprits not spared. Those in power do not have the right to decide what is right or wrong. The BJP is against brotherhood," Akhilesh Yadav tweeted.
Meanwhile, two other men have been shot dead in separate encounters with police since February 24, when Umesh Pal, a key witness to a 2005 political murder, and two policemen deployed to protect him were killed by gunmen in Prayagraj.
Atiq Ahmad, a former SP legislator, had earlier expressed apprehension that he himself could be killed by UP Police while being brought to Prayagraj from the Ahmedabad prison, where he was lodged in connection with another case.
When he was being taken to the city for Thursday’s court appearance, he made a similar remark. “I am totally reduced to dust, but please don't trouble the women and children of my family now," the 60-year-old told reporters from inside a police van.
In an apparent reference to Atiq Ahmad, Special Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said there were intelligence inputs that the convoy bringing the accused might be attacked to free him.
"The police retaliated in self defence... they were trying to escape... we had sanitised the entire route through which the cops were bringing gangster Atiq Ahmed to Prayagraj jail from Gujarat... all attempts were made to arrest them (Asad and Ghulam)... but when they retaliated... we fired back," IPS Prashant Kumar said.
On Thursday, police said an STF team led by two deputy superintendents of police reached Badagaon area in Jhansi district after getting information about the gangsters. Asad and Ghulam, who carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh each, had tried to flee on a motorcycle, police said. They opened fire at the STF team when it surrounded them and the policemen retaliated, according to Kumar. The officer said a British Bulldog revolver and a Walther pistol were recovered.