Atiq murderers did it to make a name, says FIR

3-member judicial commission to probe killings; internet shut in Prayagraj; Section 144 imposed in state as tension prevails

PRAYAGRAJ: Uttar Pradesh on Sunday constituted a threemember judicial commission to probe the sensational killing of gansgter-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf as India’s most-populous state remained on high alert and clamped a ban on large gatherings amid growing outrage over the murders amid heavy police presence.

Posing as journalists, three assailants sprayed Ahmad and his brother with bullets at the Colvin Hospital premises in Prayagraj city at around 10.30pm on Saturday when police brought the two there for a routine health examination. Ahmad and Ashraf were talking to the media and were ring-fenced by policemen when gunshots rang out and the murder was captured live on video.

An FIR registered on Sunday named the three men as Lavlesh Tiwari (22) of Banda, Mohit aka Sunny (23) of Hamirpur and Arun Kumar Maurya (18) of Kasganj district. “During interrogation about the motive, the three assailants confessed that they killed Atiq and Ashraf to wipe out their gang and make a name for themselves in the state,” said the FIR, a copy of which is with HT. The three men were booked for murder, attempt to commit murder, using prohibited arms, carrying prohibited arms, and using arms without licence.

As questions grew about how the assailants pierced the police cordon in such a high-profile case or why dozens of policemen couldn’t stop three men, the government constituted a three-member panel, headed by former Allahabad high court judge, justice Arvind Kumar Tripathi, which will submit a report in two months. The panel also comprised former district judge Brijesh Kumar Soni and former director general of police (DGP) Subesh Kumar Singh.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath held a series of meetings with top officials through the day as Prayagraj wore a deserted look with shops shuttered and police personnel marching through roads. Mobile internet remained suspended through the day.

“Officers posted in the field should remain vigilant and strict measures should be taken to maintain peace in the state… police and district administration officers should ensure that common people do not face any problem, and ensure anti-social elements do not create any law-and order problem,” said the chief minister in a press statement.

Ahmad and Ashraf, also known as Khalid Azeem, were laid to rest at their ancestral village in Prayagraj district. A post-mortem examination revealed Atiq received at least 10 bullet wounds on his chest and head. Five bullet injuries were found in Ashraf’s body.