'They Want To Kill Me': Gangster Atiq Ahmad On Being Taken To UP Again In Umesh Pal Murder Case

The court of chief judicial magistrate (CJM) in Prayagraj on Tuesday dismissed the plea of Atiq Ahmed seeking to be heard via video-conferencing in the Umesh Pal murder case.

New Delhi: Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad on Tuesday claimed that he is under threat of losing his life. Atiq was being taken to Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj from Gujarat's Sabarmati Jail for production in the murder of Umesh Pal case.

"It is not right. They want to kill me," said Atiq while being taken in a UP Police van.

The court of chief judicial magistrate (CJM) in Prayagraj on Tuesday dismissed the plea of Atiq Ahmed seeking to be heard via video-conferencing in the Umesh Pal murder case.

The court stated that the police should make a decision based on their own discretion in accordance with the law and regulations.

Atiq Ahmed had claimed that he was suffering from serious illnesses and hence, won't be able to appear in person in Prayagraj. He had requested a hearing via video conference, citing his medical conditions.

However, the court did not intervene in the matter directly.

Meanwhile, Shanti Devi, the victim's mother said, "a thorough questioning should be done. The culprits should be caught," as quoted by ANI.

"I want to thank the administration for the proceedings. I demand that the way Atiq Ahmed killed my husband, he should be killed as well. He must not be spared," said Jaya Pal, Wife of slain Umesh Pal on gangster-mafia Atiq Ahmed being brought to UP’s Prayagraj.

On March 28, Ahmad was brought from the Sabarmati jail to Prayagraj amid tight security. He was brought before an MP/MLA court, where he and two other people were given harsh life sentences for the kidnapping of lawyer Umesh Pal. He and different convicts were likewise told to pay ₹1 lakh compensation to Pal's family.

On February 24, Umesh Pal, a witness in the 2005 murder of Bahujan Samaj Party lawmaker Raju Pal, was shot dead in Prayagraj with his two security guards.

Umesh Pal is said to have been kidnapped and forced to give a statement in their favour in court by Atiq and his assistants in 2006. In this regard, the lawyer filed a complaint.

According to police, Atiq has been mentioned in more than 100 criminal cases, including the most recent murder of Umesh Pal. He had filed a petition for protection with the highest court last month, claiming that the Uttar Pradesh Police might have killed him in a fictitious encounter and that he and his family had been wrongly implicated in the murder.