Mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf Ahmed were shot dead while being taken for medical test in Prayagraj. The shooting occurred inside Prayagraj's Dhoomanganj police station. According to reports, three persons opened fire on them. After killing Atiq Ahmad and Ashraf, the assailants were caught by the Uttar Pradesh Police. Atiq and Ashraf were shot even as they spoke to the media while being escorded by policemen on duty. Multiple rounds of shots were fired from very close range.
The perpetrators have been identified as Lavlesh Tiwari, Sunny and Arun Maurya.
Asad, Atiq's son, was killed in an encounter on April 13 and his body was buried on Saturday amid strict security.
READ | Three Attackers Who Shot Atiq Ahmed And Ashraf Apprehended By Police
Atiq and members of his family had earlier repeatedly asked the courts for protection, claiming they had been receiving threats, and that their lives were in danger. Atiq had also knocked on the Supreme Court's doors to request protection while being held in detention for the murder of Umesh Pal.
Atiq and Ashraf had started to talk to the media, when the two were attacked and shot, and the incident was caught live on news cameras. As the two fell after being hit, sounds of indiscriminate shooting could be heard.
Earlier on Saturday, the Uttar Pradesh Police questioned Atiq and Ashraf at the Dhoomanganj police station.
Atiq Ahmed was accused in the BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case of 2015 as well as the Umesh Pal murder case, which occurred in February this year.
They carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh on their heads, and foreign-made weapons were recovered from them. Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf Ahmed had been brought to the CJM court in Prayagraj on the same day Asad was killed in the encounter.
(With Inputs From Agencies)