An exchange of fire with the Uttar Pradesh Police near Jhansi on Thursday resulted in the deaths of Asad Ahmad, the son of gangster and politician Atiq Ahmad, and an accomplice who were both wanted in the murder of Umesh Pal. The alleged encounter occurred clearly at the time Ahmad was in a Prayagraj court, where he was introduced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate regarding same murder and remanded to 14-day judicial custody. In addition, the court granted the UP Police a five-day remand to question him.
The Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party have called for an investigation into the Jhansi shootout, claiming that the state's Special Task Force staged a fictitious encounter.
Since Umesh Pal, a key witness to a political murder in 2005, and two police officers who were assigned to protect him were killed by gunmen in Prayagraj on February 24, two additional men have been shot dead in separate encounters with police.
Atiq Ahmad, a former SP legislator, had prior communicated worry that he, at the end of the day, could be killed by UP Police while being brought to Prayagraj from the Ahmedabad jail, where he was stopped regarding another case.
He made a similar comment while he was being transported to the city for the court appearance on Thursday.
From inside a police van, the 60-year-old told reporters, "I am totally reduced to dust, but please don't trouble the women and children of my family now."
When Umesh Pal was killed, his son Asad Ahmad was caught on camera and had been on the run for 50 days, according to police.
Here Are The Key Developments:
- In an evident reference to Atiq Ahmad, Special Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said there were intelligence inputs that the convoy bringing the accused might be attacked to free him. After receiving information about the gangsters, an STF team led by two deputy superintendents of police, according to the police, arrived in the Badagaon area of the Jhansi district on Thursday.
- According to police, Asad and Ghulam had attempted to flee on a motorcycle and carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh each. They started shooting at the STF group when it encompassed them and the cops fought back, as per Kumar. The officer said a British Bulldog revolver and a Walther pistol were recovered. He said CM Adityanath praised the police work force engaged with the action.
- Keshav Prasad Maurya, Deputy Chief Minister, also praised the STF and the UP Police. "Nobody will touch you if you don’t commit a crime, and nobody will be spared if they commit a crime," he told PTI.
- The family of Umesh Pal thanked Adityanath and the police. His wife, Jaya Pal, stated to reporters that "Whatever they have done is right." Terming Adityanath a father figure, she said, “He has punished the killer of his daughter's husband. I express my gratitude,” she said. “Justice has been done." Umesh Pal's mother said, "The two gunners who were killed in broad daylight today had committed a sin. They have been punished today. We have faith, we will get complete justice." SP president Akhilesh Yadav slammed the state government.
- “By conducting fake encounters, the BJP government is trying to divert attention from real issues. The BJP does not believe in courts at all. Today's and other recent encounters should be thoroughly investigated and the culprits not spared,” he tweeted in Hindi. "Those in power do not have the right to decide what is right or wrong. The BJP is against brotherhood," Yadav stated.
- Akhilesh Yadav raised the issue of law and order in the state assembly following the murder of Umesh Pal.
- BSP leader Mayawati connected the Jhansi experience to the gunning down in 2020 of criminal Vikas Dubey, who had purportedly arranged the trap and killing of eight cops in Kanpur. She stated that an in-depth investigation is required to discover the true nature of Thursday's encounter.
- Arbaaz, one of them, is said to have driven the vehicle in which the criminals arrived to kill Umesh Pal. Usman, the other, is said to have been shot at by some of the others.