Atiq Ahmed's killers wanted to be 'gangsters': Sources
Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh), April 17: Killers of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed had a long connection with the crime and in their desire to become "popular", they executed the killings on April 15, sources said on Monday.
The killers of Atiq and Ashraf were posing as media persons while the gangsters were being taken for medical checkup in Prayagraj medical college. They have been identified as Arun Maurya, Sunny Singh and Lavlesh Tiwari. They "wanted to become gangsters" and came together to hatch the plot to kill Atiq, sources said.
"Lavlesh Tiwari already used to run his gang with around 50 boys. However, he wanted to become a big criminal, so he carried out the murder of Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf," a police source added.
According to authorities, Lavlesh Tiwari was previously jailed for slapping a girl and has numerous cases pertaining to assault, excise, and molestation against him.
According to police sources, Sunny Singh is a member of the Bhati gang and shot Ashraf.
Also Read | Punjab Women's Panel Chairperson post to remain vacant, HC rules out new appointment till further order
Sunny Singh, a left-handed shooter, has 14 cases registered against him.
"He used to work in a tea stall earlier. After that, he started working as a helper in a truck and eventually joined the world of crime. When he went to jail for a crime, he met Sundar Bhati there. He (Sunny) shot a man named Babu Yadav, because of which he was jailed," the source added.
Sunny Singh was arrested for the first time in 2016 in connection with a robbery. According to the reports, Arun Maurya was inducted into the world of crime by Sunny Singh.
"Both had met in Panipat. Earlier also two cases were registered against Arun Maurya in Panipat. After their meeting in Panipat, they met Sodhi, a resident of Meerut, who provided them with a foreign pistol.
The police are now investigating whether anyone else was involved in the plan to kill Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf.
Also Read | Bhushan Award ceremony: 11 die, 20 hospitalised due to heatstroke in Maharashtra
- ANI
