Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced a three-member judicial commission that will probe the murders of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf in presence of the police and the media Saturday night.
The state has been put on high alert and senior officials, led by Principal Secretary, of Home, Sanjay Prasad rushed to Prayagraj to supervise the situation.
Officials said that 17 police personnel assigned to the security of Atiq and his brother have been suspended.
Meanwhile, the Internet has been shut down in Prayagraj, while some reports suggested that the BJP workers burst crackers in Kanpur.
A senior police officer said three people have been arrested in connection with the incident, which occurred just two days after Ahmad’s son was gunned down in a police encounter in Jhansi.
The shooting that occurred around 10 pm Saturday was caught on camera as mediapersons were following the duos who were being escorted to the hospital by police for a medical checkup.
At least two people, who posed as mediapersons, were seen firing from a close range at Ahmad and his brother who fell to the ground. Police soon overpowered the assailants.
The bullet-riddled bodies of Ahmad and Ashraf were taken away from the spot as tension gripped the area after the sensational killings.
“We are looking into the incident. It is too early to say anything. We are yet to question the arrested men,” a police officer said.
Ahmad, a former Samajwadi Party (SP) MP, and his brother Ashraf were brought here for a court hearing in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case.
Ahmad’s son Asad and one of his accomplices were killed in a police encounter in Jhansi April 13.
Their last rites were performed earlier in the day.
PNN/Agencies