New Delhi: Leaders across political parties late Saturday condemned the murders of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf, calling them “extrajudicial killings” that brought shame to the Uttar Pradesh government.
Television footage showed three men firing at the brothers as they were walking under heavy police security while on their way to a hospital for medical examination.
Reacting to the incident, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav said in a tweet in Hindi: “Crime has reached its peak in Uttar Pradesh and the criminals are unfazed. When someone can be shot dead amid a police cordon, then what about the safety of the general public? An atmosphere of fear is being created.”
Officials said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has formed a three-member judicial commission to probe the killing of Ahmad and his brother. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) have been issued in all districts of Uttar Pradesh.
“Atiq and his brother were in police custody. He was handcuffed. JSR (Jai Shri Ram) slogans were also raised. The killing of both is the failure of Yogi’s law and order system. Those celebrating Encounter Raj are also responsible for this murder,” AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi tweeted minutes after the news of the killings broke.
Ahmed, a former SP MP, and his brother were brought to Prayagraj for a court hearing in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case and were remanded in police custody.
Former Congress leader and veteran politician Kapil Sibal tweeted: “Two murders in UP: 1) Atiq Ahmed and brother Ashraf. 2) Rule of law”
“It is disheartening to see UP Police being used for political gains. Court gives punishment to culprits. This murder has challenged the power of the state government. This is pure anarchy. It will lead to nowhere,” BSP MP Kunwar Danish Ali told ANI in Delhi.
There was also widespread criticism of a tweet Uttar Pradesh minister Swatantra Dev Singh posted after the killings. “The accounts of sin and virtue are settled in this life…,” Singh tweeted, a remark many said was in response to the murders and showed “shameful conduct” on part of the Bharatiya Janata Party leader.
“The accounts of BJP leaders will also be settled in this very life,” Congress leader Hitendra Pithadiya wrote in response to Singh’s tweet.
Atiq had recently moved the Supreme Court for protection, claiming that he and his family were falsely implicated in the Umesh Pal murder case and he may be killed in a fake encounter by the Uttar Pradesh Police.
(Edited by Nisheeth Upadhyay)
Also read: ‘Nahi le gaye toh nahi gaye’: Atiq Ahmed’s last words before being shot dead in Prayagraj