Additional Director General (ADG) of Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force Amitabh Yash on Thursday said that the encounter killing of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed's son Asad and his accomplice Ghulam, both wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case, is a "huge success" for the police. This comes as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath praised the state during a meeting to review the law and order following the encounter.
"This was an important and challenging case. The killing of these two criminals (Asad & Ghulam) is a huge success," Amitabh Yash told news agency ANI.
"Asad and Ghulam, the main shooters in the Umesh Pal murder, were tracked down and killed in an encounter today. We had information that they possessed sophisticated foreign-made weapons," he added.
Meanwhile, the UP Chief Minister's Office stated: "After the encounter of former MP Atiq Ahmed's son Asad and his aide, CM Yogi Adityanath took a meeting on law and order. CM Yogi praised UP STF as well as DGP, Special DG law and order and the entire team", as per news agency ANI.
"Sanjay Prasad, Principal Secretary Home informed the CM about the encounter. A report was placed in front of the CM on this whole matter," the CMO informed.
One British Bulldog Revolver .455 bore and Walther P88 7.63 bore pistol were recovered from them, the UP Police informed.
Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 murder case of then BSP MLA Raju Pal, and his two police security guards were shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj's Dhoomanganj area on February 24 this year. Based on a complaint lodged by Umesh Pal's wife Jaya Pal, a case was registered on February 25 against Atiq Ahmed, his brother Ashraf, Asad, Ghulam, and others.
The FIR was lodged under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.
Atiq Ahmed is also an accused in the 2005 Raju Pal murder case.