SIT to probe Atiq Ahmed, Ashraf murder case

Prayagraj/Lucknow: The Prayagraj police has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the murder of mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Khalid Azeem alias Ashraf during police custody.

An order in this regard has been issued by the Commissioner of Police (CP) Prayagraj Ramit Sharma on Sunday. Besides, Director General of Police (DGP) RK Vishwakarma on Monday constituted a team led by ADG Prayagraj zone Bhanu Bhaskar which will supervise the investigation done by the SIT.

The CP in its order has stated that a case had been lodged at Shahganj police station in connection with murders of Atiq and Ashraf while being taken for medical examination on April 15 which is being investigated by the Station House Officer (SHO) Shahganj.

He has stated that to ensure free and qualitative investigation, recording statements of the witnesses, collecting electronic and documented evidence, forensic and scientific evidence and to get them tested as the forensic science laboratory it would be appropriate to get the investigation done by the SIT.

The CP has appointed Additional Deputy Police Commissioner (Crime) Satish Chandra as the chief investigator. He will be assisted by Assistant Police Commissioner Satyendra Prasad Tiwari and Inspector of Crime Cell of Crime Branch Om Prakash.

Meanwhile, DGP has constituted a supervisory team led by ADG Bhanu Bhaskar to monitor the probe being done by the SIT. CP Prayagraj Ramit Sharma and Director of Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Lucknow will be the members of the team.

The team will closely supervise the investigation along with analysing physical exhibits, sequential, concrete and verifiable evidence, digital, technical and scientific evidence and issue directives and guidance to the SIT from time to time.

The supervisory team will also handle and ensure compliance of the directives issued by the different courts, including the Supreme Court and the High Court.

It may be noted that Atiq and Ashraf were shot dead by three shooters while they were being taken to Colvin hospital in Shahganj area on the night of April 15. The shooters identified as Lavlesh Tiwari, Mohit alias

Shani and Arun Kumar Maurya were nabbed from the spot and a case was lodged against them on Sunday.

Atiq and Ashraf were brought from Sabarmati jail in Ahmedabad, Gujarat and Bareilly jail respectively for questioning in the murder of Umesh Pal, the main witness in Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal. Umesh Pal and his two gunners were shot dead by the assailants, including Atiq's son Assad, Ghulam and others outside his house in Sulem Sarai area under Dhoomanganj police station on February 24.

Assad and Ghulam were killed in an encounter with the Special Task Force (STF) in Jhansi on April 13. Atiq was already convicted by the court and awarded life imprisonment in the kidnapping of Umesh Pal in 2006. (UNI)