Gangster Atiq Ahmed, brother shot dead in Prayagraj; killings caught on camera

Atiq had claimed that he faced an "open, direct, and immediate threat" to his life from Uttar Pradesh state functionaries, and had urged the court to instruct the central government to ensure his and his family's safety. He and Asad died roughly two weeks after the Supreme Court's decision.

Prayagraj (UP):Days after his son was killed in an encounter, mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf Ahmed were shot dead while being taken for a medical checkup in Prayagraj on Saturday evening. A video of the two being shot dead by unknown gunmen has gone viral on social media. Atiq and his brother in the video are being seen walking with policemen surrounding them when suddenly a man from the crowd shoots them dead, apparently with a pistol.

These high-profile murders take place days after Atiq's son Asad and his aide were killed in an alleged encounter in the state. Atiq was presently serving life imprisonment in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case.

"Mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf Ahmed shot dead while being taken for medical in Prayagraj," news agency ANI reported. Ironically, Atiq was not allowed to attend the last rites of his son Asad. Asad was buried at Kasari Masari graveyard here on Saturday amid heavy police security, with few distant relatives and locals allowed inside the burial ground. The burial lasted for an hour, police said. Atiq had on Friday sought permission from a magistrate to attend the funeral of his son. His lawyer Manish Khanna had said that since Friday was a holiday on account of Ambedkar Jayanti, the request had been sent to the remand magistrate.

Atiq had filed a plea to the Supreme Court requesting protection for himself and his family members, who were accused in the Umesh Pal murder case. He had challenged his transfer from Sabarmati jail to Prayagraj jail for the investigation of the case. The Supreme Court refused to provide relief to Atiq, asking him to approach the Allahabad High Court instead, and noting that the state machinery would safeguard him.

Atiq had claimed that he faced an "open, direct, and immediate threat" to his life from Uttar Pradesh state functionaries, and had urged the court to instruct the central government to ensure his and his family's safety and security and prevent any physical or bodily harm. Atiq and Asad died roughly two weeks after the Supreme Court's decision.

Among other sons of Atiq, the eldest son Umar is lodged in Lucknow jail, while the second son Ali is lodged in Naini Central Jail in separate cases. The fourth son Ahjam and the youngest son Aban are housed in a juvenile home in Prayagraj. Atiq's parents' remains are also buried in the same graveyard (Kasari Masari), according to Janu Khan, who claimed to have dug the grave of Asad.