Lucknow/New Delhi: A day after three shooters in the guise of journalists killed gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother in presence of several policemen, the Uttar Pradesh government has banned the entry of media persons in the Kalidas Marg in Lucknow where the official residences of several VVIPs including Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is located.
Official sources said that following the murder of Atiq and his brother Ashraf high alert has been issued in key areas of the State. They further revealed that security has also been beefed up at Kalidas Marg.
Apart from the Chief Minister, the official residences of VVIPs such as Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya, Cabinet Ministers Suresh Khanna, Dayashankar Singh, Surya Pratap Shahi, Dharamveer Prajapati are located on Kalidas Marg. Official sources said that along with media persons the entry of outsiders have also been banned in the area.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs will prepare SOPs (Standard Operating Procedure) for the safety and security of journalists, sources said on Sunday. The Ministry of Home Affairs, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, will prepare standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the safety and security of journalists, news agency PTI reported citing sources.
Dreaded gangster Atiq Ahmed was speaking to journalists when a youth pointing a pistol at his forehead shot him dead. His brother, Ashraf who was accompanying him for a medical examination by the Prayagraj police was shot dead moments later.
Also read: Drug addict, jobless youth shot dead Atiq Ahmed
The gangster who was in handcuffs was responding to a question asked by a journalist about not being able to attend his son's funeral. Atiq said that he cannot do much about it since he was not allowed by the police. While he was about to speak about Guddu Muslim, he was shot dead even before he could complete his sentence.
Chaos ensued soon after as a volley of shots was fired in which some reporters were reportedly injured. Three shooters who had gone to the spot in order to murder the gangster were caught by the police at that very moment. One of the shooters was seen firing indiscriminately at Atiq's body with the police trying to stop him from behind. Another youth was seen chanting Jai Shree Ram slogans after the murder while being overpowered by the police.
The shocking videos of the incident flooded the internet Saturday night and television channels aired the incident throughout the night. The murder provoked sharp reactions against the Yogi government for the complete lawlessness that was evident in the video. (With PTI inputs)
