'Open Firing Amidst Police Cordon...': SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav After Atiq, Ashraf Ahmed Shot Dead In Prayagraj

Akhilesh Yadav, the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and the chief of the Samajwadi Party, said on Saturday that crime in the state has peaked and criminal morale is high.

File photo of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav ( Image Source :PTI )

Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Saturday that crime in the state has peaked and criminal morale is high. He expressed concern, saying that if someone can be killed by openly firing amidst a police security cordon, what about the general public's safety? As a result, a fearful atmosphere has been created among the general public, and it appears that some people are deliberately creating such an atmosphere, he said in a tweet in Hindi. 

उप्र में अपराध की पराकाष्ठा हो गयी है और अपराधियों के हौसले बुलंद है। जब पुलिस के सुरक्षा घेरे के बीच सरेआम गोलीबारी करके किसीकी हत्या की जा सकती है तो आम जनता की सुरक्षा का क्या। इससे जनता के बीच भय का वातावरण बन रहा है, ऐसा लगता है कुछ लोग जानबूझकर ऐसा वातावरण बना रहे हैं।

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) April 15, 2023

After his son Asad was killed in an encounter in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi, Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf Ahmed were killed on Saturday while being taken for medical treatment in Prayagraj. Atiq Ahmed was charged in the 2005 murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal, as well as the murder of Umesh Pal in February of this year.

The killing was broadcast live on television channels while Atiq and Ashraf were speaking to the media. Sounds of indiscriminate fire could be heard as Atiq and Ashraf collapsed on the ground.

The attackers were chanting Jai Shri Ram and were apprehended by police immediately after killing Atiq Ahmad and Ashraf. When Atiq and Ashraf were surrounded by cops, they were shot. The shots were fired at close range, with multiple bullets being fired.

READ | Leaders Who Questioned Asad's Encounter Under House Arrest. Heavy Deployment Around SP, Congress Offices

Sunny, Lovelesh, and Arun, the three attackers, have been apprehended.

On Saturday, the Uttar Pradesh Police questioned Atiq and Ashraf at the Dhoomanganj police station.

Click Here For Live Updates: Atiq Ahmed Shot Dead Live Updates 

Asad was killed in an encounter in Jhansi on April 13. He was murdered alongside Ghulam, who were both wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case in Prayagraj. They were each carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakhs on their heads. According to the police, foreign-made weapons were recovered.