The notorious and highly feared gangster turned politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf Ahmed have been booked under the UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act). The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has found substantial evidence regarding the links between Atiq and ISI as well as LeT (Lashkar-e-Taiba).
The duo is the prime accused in the Umesh Pal Murder Case.
In a confession statement given to the Uttar Pradesh Police, Atiq revealed that he had direct connections with LeT and Pakistan’s Inter Service Intelligence (ISI).
In his statement included in the police chargesheet, Atiq said- “I have no dearth of weapons because I have links with the LeT and ISI. Incoming Weapons from Pakistan are dropped on the Punjab Border with the help of drones and local connections acquire them.
Terrorists from Jammu and Kashmir get weapons from this very consignment. If you take me with you, I can help you recover money, arms, and ammunition used in the incident.
Additionally, he told the police that he informed his wife Shaista Parveen who is a co-accused in the Umesh Pal Murder case, about the plan to murder Umesh Pal including how the weapons will be kept and procured. Shaista Parveen is currently absconding.
On April 14, 2023, Atiq and Ashraf were brought to the Dhoomanganj Police Station in Prayagraj.
A key associate of Atiq named Asad Kalia along with his brother Faisal was arrested from the Umri Village. Kalia is wanted in several cases and carried a bounty of Rs 25000 on his head.
On March 21, 2023, the UP Police and the STF (Special Task Force) carried out a raid on Atiq Ahmed’s Office and discovered ten illegal firearms and cash worth 72 lakh 62 thousand.
According to an investigation, Atiq’s son Asad which was killed in an encounter had received 80 lakh rupees from the Lucknow Builder whose name is Mohammed Muslim. Asad received the money two days before the encounter. This money was to be distributed to the killers of Umesh Pal.
Umesh Pal, a key witness to the murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal was shot dead outside his residence in Prayagraj on February 24, 2023. He was immediately taken to the hospital bud he died during treatment.
The criminals were identified by the CCTV Footage outside Umesh Pal’s residence. Based on a complaint by Jaya Pal, the police booked Atiq Ahmed, his brother Ashraf, his wife Shaista Parveen and two aides Guddu Muslim and Ghulam and nine others.
It is notable that on April 13, 2023, Asad Ahmed, the third son of Atiq Ahmed was gunned down by the UP Police STF in an encounter at Jhansi. Along with Asad, his associate Ghulam Muhammad, son of Maksudan, a gunman who assisted Asad in killing Umesh Pal and 2 other police personnel, was also killed.
