Atiq Ahmad breaks down in court after son's encounter | Know how day unfolded for the gangster

New Delhi, April 13: Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed on Thursday burst into tears in a court after learning about his son Asad’s death in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force (STF) in Jhansi.

According to UP Police, Asad Ahmad was planning to free his father Atiq Ahmad by attacking a police convoy midway as the gangster was being brought to Uttar Pradesh for a hearing.

Notably, Asad was the main accused in the Umesh Pal murder case. His aide Ghulam was also killed in the encounter with the UPSTF team led by DySP Navendu and DySP Vimal. Both accused were carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh each.

Court Hearing of Atiq Ahmad

On Thursday, Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf were produced in court in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case.

Atiq received news about the encounter at the court after which he broke down in the court and cried profusely. Meanwhile, his brother Altaf was taken aback by the news.

Both Atiq and his brother remained in the court for over two hours as the arguments proceeded.

Prayagraj Chief Judicial Magistrate Court sent Atiq and his brother to four-day police custody in the Umesh Pal murder case.

The police custody of Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf started from 5 pm on April 13 till 5 pm on April 17.

"...I have no dearth of weapons because I have direct connections with Pakistan's ISI and terror organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba. Weapons from Pakistan are dropped on the Punjab border with the help of drones and local connection collects them. Terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir get weapons from this consignment. If you take me with you, I can help you recover that money and arms and ammunition used in the incident," the chargesheet said citing Atiq.

On March 28, Atiq Ahmad was convicted by an MP-MLA court and sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment in the abduction case of now-deceased Umesh Pal. Atiq Ahmad and his family came under the scanner in the Umesh Pal murder case.

Atiq Ahmad, who has over 100 cases against him over the last 43 years, has been convicted in the same case.

Asad Ahmad encounter

Asad and his aide Ghulam, both wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case, were tracked to Jhansi by security personnel. They were shot dead in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh STF after refusing to stop for a routine check and opening fire.

A total of 42 rounds were fired during the encounter.

According to the police foreign-made weapons, new cellphones and SIM cards were also recovered from their possession.

"Asad, son of mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and Ghulam S/o Maksudan, both wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj and carrying a reward of Rupees five lakhs each; killed in an encounter with the UPSTF team led by DySP Navendu and DySP Vimal at Jhansi. Sophisticated foreign made weapons recovered," UP Police informed on Thursday.

Following the killing of Asad and Ghulam in an encounter, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath chaired a high-level meeting on 'law and order' on Thursday.

Also Read | J-K security situation: Amit Shah chairs high-level meeting in Delhi

Umesh Pal murder case

Umesh Pal was a lawyer and a witness in the 2005 murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal.

He was shot dead in a daylight attack outside his home in Prayagraj on February 24 and security personnel guarding him were also killed. Several rounds were fired and bombs were hurled at Umesh and his gunners.

The attack's shocking visuals also prompted questions about Uttar Pradesh's law and order situation and the government came under fire from the Opposition.

On February 25, a case was filed against Ahmad, Ashraf, their family members, and others based on a complaint filed by Umesh Pal's wife, Jaya Pal.

The case was registered under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

Following Asad's encounter killing, Shanti Devi - the mother of Umesh Pal - thanked UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the recent developments.

"I thank CM Yogi ji for serving justice and I appeal to him to give us justice ahead also. We have full faith in CM. This is a tribute to my son. I thank the Chief Minister and the police department which discharged their duties," she said while talking to reporters.

Also Read | Umesh Pal murder: Prayagraj court sends gangster Atiq Ahmed, brother Ashraf to 4-day custody

- PTC NEWS

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