Jhansi (UP): Asad, son of mafia-turned politician Atique Ahmed, and Ghulam, who were wanted in advocate Umesl Pal murder case in Prayagraj, were killed in an encounter with Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) in Jhansi, police sources said here.
Police sources said that Asad and Ghulam were among the main shooters who killed advocate Umesh Pal and his two gunners in Prayagraj on February 24. “The two were absconding after the incident and raids were being carried out on their possible hideouts. The UP government had declared a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh each on their arrest,” they said.
Police sources said that the STF team was led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Navendu and DSP Vimal of STF. “Sophisticated firearms have been recovered from the possession of the two shooters,” they said.
It may be noted that Umesh Pal and his two gunners were shot dead near his house in Sulem Sarai locality in Dhoomanganj area in Prayagraj on March 24. Umesh Pal’s wife Jaya Pal had lodged a case against Atique, his brother Ashraf, wife Shaista Parveen, two sons and nine others.
Initially Asad was not named in the FIR but his name surfaced after the CCTV footage of the shootout in Prayagraj came to fore. In the footage Asad could be seen firing at Umesh Pal from a close range. The encounter came on the day when Atique and his brother Ashraf were being produced in the Prayagraj court in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case.
ADG of Uttar Pradesh police Amitabh Yash has said that further details of the encounter are awaited.
