JHANSI: Jailed gangster turned politician Atiq Ahmad’s son Asad, wanted in Umesh Pal murder case, was killed in encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Police’s Special Task Force (STF) in Jhansi, officials said. Sophisticated foreign made weapons recovered from both the slain accused, it added.
The encounter comes a day after father Atiq was brought to Pragyaraj from Sabarmati Jail for hearing in the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court on Thursday. Co-accused- his brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf was brought from Bareilly jail.
Two including Asad were wanted in lawyer Umesh Pal murder case. Gulam and Asad carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh each.
According to officials, Asad not only meticulously planed the attack on Umesh Pal, but also orchestrated the coordination among the gang members and took charge of the logistics. Asad emerged as the “go-to-man” in the shootout. He reportedly played a pivotal role in coordinating with the shooters, identifying the SUVs to be used in the crime, and intricately planning the execution and escape route for the team.
Umesh Pal was a witness in the 2005 killing of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) lawmaker Raju Pal in which Ahmad is an accused. On February 24, Umesh Pal and his two security guards were shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj.
An FIR was filed and a case was registered on February 25 against Ahmad, Ashraf, their family members and others. The accused were booked 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.