Atiq Ahmed Murder: From point-blank killing to identity of shooters - Here's what we know so far

Former Indian politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother, Khalid Azeem alias Ashraf Azeem, were shot dead live on TV on April 15. 

In Prayagraj (Allahabad, UP), Atiq Ahmed, who was being escorted by police, was speaking to a section of media when someone pulled a pistol close to his head and shot him in Prayagraj. Three individuals who had been pretending to be journalists soon surrendered and were brought into prison after the bullets were fired on Saturday night. 

Meanwhile, Atiq's teenage son Asad and his aide Ghulam were killed in an encounter on Thursday, April 13.

Atiq was accused of the 2005 murder of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal and the 2023 murder of Umesh Pal. In the incident, the UP Police have arrested a total of 3 shooters.

Soon after Atiq was shot dead, Section 144 of the CrPC was imposed on Sunday in all the districts by the Uttar Pradesh government.

Who killed Atiq and Ashraf? 

The two were shot dead in Prayagraj when three individuals opened fire on them near a famous medical institution, where Atiq and Ashraf were being taken for medical examinations. Atiq and Ashraf collapsed on the ground soon after they were shot.  

While being led by around a dozen police officers for a normal medical examination on Saturday, April 15 night, the 60-year-old former Samajwadi Party MP was assassinated a few hours after his son Asad Ahmed received his last rites. The Prayagraj shooting took place around 10:30 pm and was captured live on camera as media persons followed the handcuffed duo of Atiq and Ashraf being taken to the Calvin Hospital. 

"Shooters were posing as journalists. As Atiq and Ashraf reached for a check-up, they were surrounded by other journalists who got close to Atiq and his brother. One was carrying a camera and posing as a cameraman. While one was roaming with a mike written NCR News on it. Third was assisting both," according to a media report citing police sources. 

The shooters were identified as Lavlesh Tiwari, Sunny, and Arun Maurya, and all have been apprehended by the UP Police. They all belong to three different districts in Uttar Pradesh. Sunny Singh is from Hamirpur, Lovlesh Tiwari is from Banda, and Arun Maurya resides in Kasganj. 

Why did they kill Atiq and Ashraf?  

When shooters were questioned about their intention of killing Atiq and Ashraf, they admitted that they killed Atiq and Ashraf mainly because they wanted to establish themselves as criminals. They also said that they had intended to kill Atiq and Ashraf ever since they learned that they were being held in custody, and that they finally had the chance to do it on Saturday. 

How did they kill Ahmed and Azeem? 

The three assailants used highly sophisticated Zigana pistols, which are banned in India.  

TISAS, a Turkish gun manufacturer, makes Zigana semi-automatic pistols. The production of the said pistols started in 2001 and is one of the first pistols in Turkey with an original design. 

Politicians react to Atiq and his brother's murder

Reacting to the killings of Atiq Ahmed and his brother, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said that she was “shocked by the brazen anarchy and total collapse of law & order in Uttar Pradesh”.

“The constitution of the country has been made by those people who fought for freedom. This constitution and law of ours have got the highest position. No one can be allowed to play with the Constitution,” said Kharge.

"Atiq and his brother were killed while in police custody and were handcuffed. Slogans of JSR were also raised. Their murder is a perfect example of Yogi’s big failure of law & order. Those celebrating encounter-raj are equally responsible for this murder," commented Asaduddin Owaisi.

"There must be a thorough probe on murder of Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf.....strict action will be taken against the murderers," said BJP MP Subrat Pathak.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra commented:

UP govt forms 3-member judicial commission to probe into Atiq Ahmad, brother murder case

The Uttar Pradesh government has created a three-member judicial panel to look into the murders of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Khalid Azeem alias Ashraf.

According to authorities, the commission would be led by retired high court judge Arvind Kumar Tripathi and retired judge Brijesh Kumar Soni and former DGP Subesh Kumar Singh.

The commission will have to submit its report to the government within two months, they said, adding the state home department has constituted the commission under Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952.

Atiq-FIR-Terror

Atiq Ahmed had admitted during questioning by police that he had links with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, according to an FIR.

Police said Ahmed's statement was recorded on court orders.

"The ISI, using drones, used to drop weapons in Punjab, and someone linked to the ISI used to collect these arms and send some of them to LeT, some to Khalistan separatist organisations, and some weapons like .45 bore pistol, AK-47 and RDX were made available to me, and I used to pay for the same," Atiq had said in the statement.

Bullets ruling UP, Yogi govt will have to face consequences, says VBA's Ambedkar

According to Prakash Ambedkar, head of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, the "rule of bullets in place of law" in the northern state will have repercussions for the Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh.

He was responding to queries on Saturday night's encounter of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and the latter's sibling Ashraf in Prayagraj.

"Instead of law and order, bullets are ruling in Uttar Pradesh. The Yogi Adityanath government will have to pay the consequences. The government will have to find the masterminds (of Saturday's attack). UP is living in fear," Ambedkar said.

Meanwhile, he also said "political turmoil" will hit Maharashtra politics in "15 days", though he did not elaborate.

Atiq killing 'diversionary tactic' to shift attention from Pulwama 'revelations', says Mehbooba Mufti

Mehbooba Mufti, the leader of the PDP, claimed on Sunday that the murder of Atiq Ahmad and his brother in Uttar Pradesh was a "clever diversionary tactic" to divert attention away from the "revelations" made by Satyapal Malik, a former governor of Jammu and Kashmir, about the Pulwama incident.

Mufti said in a tweet in Hindi, "Uttar Pradesh has slipped into anarchy and jungle raj. Cold blooded murders and lawlessness is being celebrated by rabid right wingers amidst slogans of Jai Shri Ram.

The People's Democratic Party chief added, "A clever diversionary tactic to shift attention from Satyapal Malik's damning revelations about the Pulwama attack and corruption."

With PTI inputs