Atiq, Ashraf Ahmed Shot Dead: Weapons From Crime Scene Recovered, Report Submitted To MHA — Key Updates So Far

In the wee hours of Sunday, April 16, a high-level meeting was held at the chief minister's residence, attended by the DGP, Director General (Law and Order) and other senior state officials.

Police personnel patrol an area after the imposition of Section 144 in Uttar Pradesh in view of the killing of mafioso-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Khalid Azim aka Ashraf by unidentified assailants in Prayagraj, in Kanpur, Sunday, April 16, 2023.

Source : PTI

After Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were shot dead by three assailants while being in a police cordon and surrounded by media persons on April 15, Saturday night, the Uttar Pradesh (UP) administration sprung into action. In order to further control the law and order situation, prohibitory orders under section 144 were enforced in UP. In one of the first orders, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a 3-member judicial commission high-level probe into the killings of the Ahmed brothers. 

In the wee hours, April 16, of Sunday a high-level meeting was held at the chief minister's residence, attended by the Director General of Police (DGP) UP, Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar, and other senior state officials. After the meeting, a statement from Chief Minister's Office (CMO) released stated Adityanath has instructed Police officers to be on alert and ensure peace. The CMO statement said Law & Order shall be maintained in the state and the public doesn’t face any trouble. CM also appealed to people not to pay any attention to rumours and strict action will be taken against those spreading rumours.

Atiq And Ashraf Shot Dead — Key Updates So Far

• All three apprehended assailants — Lovelesh Tiwari, Arun Maurya and Sunny — are being interrogated. Their identities were quickly established and their families were reached out to. All three miscreants have shown no remorse, as per the ongoing investigation and wanted to gain fame after killing Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf.
• While Section 144 is imposed in the entire state, Prayagraj district is under strict vigil. Internet services have been suspended in the district.
• Lovelesh Tiwari was also hit by a bullet. He was hit by a fellow miscreant and sustained a bullet injury and is currently out of danger.
• Post-mortem procedure on Atiq and Ashraf began around noon and will be conducted by a single panel and is expected to continue for 6-8 hours.
• Turkey-made sophisticated Zigana pistol has been recovered from the shooting site.
• Another high-level meeting was conducted at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's residence, which was attended by Additional Chief Secretary and CM Advisor. DGP Rajkumar Vishwakarma also attended the meeting and will later brief media persons.
• UP government has submitted a report to the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the shooting incident. The report was sent following a meeting between Sanjay Prasad, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department, and the Chief Minister.
• Raids are underway at several locations in Prayagraj. A lodge near Prayagraj railway station, where the three assailants are believed to have stayed is also been raided and the lodge manager along with two employees has been taken into custody.
• Umesh Pal's family has been told by the Prayagraj Police Commissionerate not to meet anyone including the media.