Prayagraj: For Pankaj Srivastava, it was a narrow escape. “I fell to the ground and the bullet flew over my head. I am yet to recover from the shock. It would have killed me too,” recalls Srivastava, who was among the several media persons posing questions to gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf at the Prayagraj medical college where they were taken for a medical examination by the police Saturday night.
“It all happened in 30 seconds, before anyone could process,” says senior camera person Neeraj Kumar. Other media persons who were eyewitnesses to the shooting tell ThePrint that the assailants pushed through the security cover and shot Atiq at point-blank range.
Three men fired at least 20 rounds at the Ahmed brothers, killing them on the spot before police personnel manning the cordon could take the charge of the situation. Police have identified the three assailants as Lovelesh Tiwari, Sunny and Arun Maurya.
Media persons had gathered outside the medical college Saturday night to get a reaction from Atiq over his inability to attend his son Asad’s funeral earlier that day. “Nahin le gaye toh nahin gaye (they did not take us, so we did not go),” Atiq told them — his last words.
Asad and his accomplice Ghulam, both named as accused in the Umesh Pal murder case, were killed Thursday in a purported encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Police in Jhansi.
Meanwhile, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has constituted a three-member panel to probe the fatal attack on Atiq and Ashraf. “All three attackers have been arrested. Police are conducting an inquiry,” read a press statement issued by the government late Saturday.
With Section 144, CrPC — prohibiting assembly of four or more people in one area — in place across the state’s 75 districts, UP police have been on their toes since receiving clear instructions from the CMO (chief minister’s office) to ensure law and order is maintained.
Also Read: Atiq, brother Ashraf gunned down — A timeline of events since Umesh Pal’s murder
‘They didn’t run, they surrendered’
Kumar recalls that the three assailants, after they opened indiscriminate fire at Atiq and his brother Ashraf, raised both their hands and yelled “surrender” thrice. “They didn’t run; they surrendered to the police who caught hold of them and took them into custody. They chanted Jai Shri Ram as the police were taking them to the jeep,” says Kumar.
Another journalist, who spoke to ThePrint on condition of anonymity, says an identity card and a mic were seen lying on the floor after the incident, unclaimed.
Addressing the media Saturday night, Prayagraj Police Commissioner Ramit Sharma had said that the three assailants pretended to be journalists in order to get close to Atiq and his brother. Sharma had added that all three were now in custody and being interrogated.
On Sunday, the police further clarified that contrary to reports that a journalist affiliated with news agency ANI and a police constable were also injured in the fatal attack, the reporter in question, Shailesh Pandey, fell to the ground in panic and hurt his leg.
“There were no bullet injuries to any journalist. Pandey hurt his leg and is limping a bit. But he is fine now,” says a senior police officer who did not wish to be named.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
Also Read: Pure anarchy, murder of rule of law’: Politicians condemn killings of Atiq Ahmed, his brother