Atiq Ahmed
Atiq Ahmed (10 August 1962 – 15 April 2023) was an Indian gangster and politician.[2][3][4] He served as a member of the Indian Parliament and the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly from the Samajwadi Party.[5][6][7] Ahmed had more than 160 criminal cases registered against him, and he competed in several elections from jail.[8][9] As of March 2023, the Uttar Pradesh Police had seized properties worth ₹11,684 crore (US$1.5 billion) belonging to Ahmed and his family.[10][11] In 2019, he was convicted of kidnapping a witness who testified against him regarding the 2005 murder of his political rival Raju Pal.[12] Ahmed remained in jail until his assassination by gunmen on his way to a court-mandated medical checkup on 15 April 2023.[13][14][15][16]
Atiq Ahmed | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 13 May 2004 – 16 May 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Dharmraj Patel |
| Succeeded by | Kapil Muni Karwariya |
| Constituency | Phulpur |
| Member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 1989–2004 | |
| Preceded by | Gopal Das Yadav |
| Succeeded by | Raju Pal |
| Constituency | Allahabad West |
| President of Apna Dal for Uttar Pradesh | |
| In office 1999–2003 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 August 1962 Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Died | 15 April 2023 (aged 60) Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Manner of death | Assassination |
| Political party | AIMIM (2021–2023)[1] |
| Other political affiliations | |
| Spouse | Shaista Parveen (m. 1996) |
| Children | 5 |
| Occupation |
|
Early and personal life
Atiq Ahmed was born in 1962 to a poor family. His father was a horse-cart driver in Allahabad.[17]
Ahmed was married to Shaista Praveen.[18] The couple had five sons.[19] Ahmed's brother Khalid Azim (alias Ashraf) was also an ex-MLA from the Samajwadi Party.[20][21]
Political career
Entry into politics
Ahmed entered politics in 1989 when he won a MLA seat in Allahabad West as an independent candidate. He retained his seat in the 1991 and 1993 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, and then won the seat in 1996 as a Samajwadi Party (SP) member.[22]
As a member of Lok Sabha
In 1999, he left the SP and became the president of Apna Dal (Kamerawadi), winning the Allahabad West seat in 2002. He rejoined the SP in 2003. In 2004, Ahmed was elected as the Lok Sabha Member of Parliament for Phulpur, after which he resigned from his MLA seat in Allahabad.[22][23]
In 2007, he was expelled from SP after he provided protection to men with allegations of rape in a Madrasa and the massive outcry caused by the event.[17]
In the 2009 Indian general elections, Atiq Ahmed was allowed to run for election, since he was yet to be convicted in any criminal case.[24] However, the Samajwadi Party expelled him in the year 2008, and Mayawati refused him a ticket under BSP.[25] Later, he contested elections as a candidate for the Apna Dal party in Pratapgarh, only to lose the election.[26]
Participation from prison
Ahmed contested the 2012 Uttar Pradesh elections under the Apna Dal banner for the Allahabad (West) constituency. He filed his nomination from jail.[27] He appealed for bail in the Allahabad High Court, but ten judges refused to hear the case. The eleventh judge finally took up the matter and he was released on bail before the elections.[8] However, the seat went to Raju Pal's widow, Puja Pal.[28]
In 2014, he was taken back into the Samajwadi Party and fought the national elections for the Shrawasti constituency. He secured a quarter of the votes but lost by more than 85,000 votes to Daddan Mishra of the BJP.[29]
Electoral history
Ahmed has been elected as 5 times MLA and 1 time Lok Sabha MP.[30]
| # | From | To | Position | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 1989 | 1991 | MLA (1st term) from Allahabad West | IND |
| 2. | 1991 | 1993 | MLA (2nd term) from Allahabad West | IND |
| 3. | 1993 | 1996 | MLA (3rd term) from Allahabad West | IND |
| 4. | 1996 | 2002 | MLA (4th term) from Allahabad West | SP |
| 5. | 2002 | 2004 | MLA (5th term) from Allahabad West | Apna Dal |
| 6. | 2004 | 2009 | MP (1st term) in 14th Lok Sabha from Phulpur | SP |
Criminal cases
Introduction to crime
Ahmed entered the world of crime by stealing coal from trains and selling it for profit. This later transformed into threatening contractors for obtaining government tenders for railway scrap metal. His first criminal record was in 1979, when he was accused of murder in Allahabad. This is where he built his crime network. He also became the first person to be booked under the Gangster Act in Uttar Pradesh.[17]
In his early days, Ahmed worked closely with other notorious members of the mafia in Allahabad namely Chand Baba. After the encounter of his biggest competitor Shaukat Ilahi in 1990, Ahmed became very powerful and became known for extortion, kidnapping and murder.[17]
Raju Pal murder
In 2004, Ahmed vacated the Allahabad West MLA seat in order to serve as an MP from Phulpur as a member of SP. In his place, his younger brother Khalid Azim contested the by-elections and lost to a BSP candidate, Raju Pal. In 2005, Raju Pal was shot dead and Khalid Azim was able to win the next by-elections and obtain the MLA seat.[17]
Ahmed was named and arrested as the main accused in this case but later received bail.[31] Ahmed was able to hold his power in the underworld even from inside the prison.[17]
After Mayawati gained power as the Chief Minister in the state, she mounted pressure against him. He surrendered and was arrested in 2008.[17]
SHUATS assault case
On 14 December 2016, staff members of Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences were allegedly assaulted by Ahmed and his associates for taking action against two students who were barred from taking examinations after they were caught cheating. The video of Ahmed beating the SHUATS teacher and employees was widely circulated on the internet. Ahmed was arrested the following day.[32] On 10 February 2017, the Allahabad High Court summoned the criminal history of Ahmed and also directed the Superintendent of Police of Allahabad to arrest all the accused in the case. The police arrested Ahmed on 11 February after which he was remanded to 14-day judicial custody.[33]
Umesh Pal abduction and murder
In 2019, Ahmed was convicted of the kidnapping of Umesh Pal, a key witness who testified against Ahmed in the Raju Pal murder case.[12] On 24 February 2023, Umesh Pal was killed during a shooting and bomb attack.[34] Ahmed was the main suspect accused in this murder case.[31][35][36][37] Ahmed's brother Ashraf, son Asad, and associate Guddu Muslim, a bomb maker who allegedly threw the bomb at Umesh Pal and has been involved in previous violent crimes, were the co-accused.[38]
Ahmed was shifted from the Prayagraj Central Jail to the Sabarmati Jail in Ahmedabad in June 2019.[39]
Death
On 13 April 2023, Ahmed's son, Asad, who was wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case, was killed in an encounter during action in Jhansi by the Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force (STF).[40][41]
On 15 April 2023, while being escorted for a court-mandated medical checkup in the presence of police in Allahabad, Ahmed was asked about his absence during his son's last rites, to which he replied in Hindi, "I wasn't taken, so I didn't go." Before Ahmed's brother Ashraf could complete his statement "Main thing is that Guddu Muslim...",[42] a pistol was fired at Atiq Ahmed's head at point-blank range, resulting in his death. Ashraf Ahmed was also killed in the attack, which was captured and broadcast live on television. The brothers were surrounded by police personnel at the time of the shooting.[43][44] The three perpetrators had posed as media personnel and did not attempt to escape after committing the murder, instead surrendering while chanting the slogan "Jai Shri Ram".[45] They were identified and arrested.[46][47]
References
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- ^ "Atiq Ahmed, brother Ashraf shot dead in Uttar Pradesh". Deccan Herald. 15 April 2023. from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ^ "Atiq Ahmed, Politician, Thanks Media, Says 'It's Because of You That...'". News18. 12 April 2023. from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ "Atiq Ahmed: The brazen murder of an Indian mafia don-turned-politician". BBC News. 16 April 2023. from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ^ Newsdesk, PGurus (12 April 2023). "Umesh Pal Murder Case: Atiq Ahmad to be Interrogated; his Sister Offers to Surrender in Court". PGurus. from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ "UP don Atique Ahmed to be transferred to Sabarmati jail". The Times of India. 27 April 2019. from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
- ^ "Uttar Pradeshs first gangster Ateeq Ahmad is SPs poll candidate". from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
- ^ a b Aditi Phadnis (12 February 2012). "Allahabad a challenge for Congress, BSP". Business Standard. from the original on 20 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
- ^ Arun Chaubey (May 2007). . ZeAtique. Archived from the original on 14 May 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2007.
- ^ "160 criminal cases, illegal revenues worth crores: Report card of Atiq Ahmed's family". India Today. from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ^ "160 cases lodged against don-turned-politician Atiq, kin". The Times of India. 4 March 2023. from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ^ a b "Former Indian lawmaker, brother fatally shot live on TV". AP NEWS. 16 April 2023. from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ^ "Mafia don-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed gets bail – Indian Express". archive.indianexpress.com. from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
- ^ "Mafia Don Atique Ahmed convoy creates traffic jam in Allahabad-Kanpur Highway" (video). from the original on 23 January 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
- ^ "Why is Atiq Ahmed being taken from Sabarmati jail to UP?". India Today. from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ "Gangster Atiq Ahmed's convoy reaches Uttar Pradesh". The Indian Express. 27 March 2023. from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g "The Atiq Ahmed story: Accused of murder at 17, 5-time MLA and helpless father in the end". India Today. from the original on 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ "160 criminal cases, illegal revenues worth crores: Report card of Atiq Ahmed's family". from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ "Gangster Atiq Ahmed's two minor sons missing, wife moves court". from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ "Former Samajwadi Party MLA Khalid Azim arrested in UP's Prayagraj". The Times of India. 3 July 2020. from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ "HC rejects bail plea of Ashraf in 2015 double murder case". 5 March 2023. from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ a b "From gangster to parliamentarian: Story of Atiq Ahmad's journey". LiveMint. 16 April 2023. from the original on 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ . 16 November 2007. Archived from the original on 16 November 2007. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ "Daily Excelsior". Jammu Kashmir Latest News | Tourism | Breaking News J&K. from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ . The Hindu. Chennai, India. 23 April 2009. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009.
- ^ . 19 May 2009. Archived from the original on 19 May 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ "Atique Ahmed files nomination from jail". Indian Express. 24 January 2012. from the original on 20 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
- ^ "2012 Election Results" (PDF). Election Commission of India website. (PDF) from the original on 8 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
- ^ "SHRAWASTI ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS RESULTS 2021". NDTV.
- ^ "Member Profile". Lok Sabha. from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
- ^ a b "Umesh Pal murder: Atiq Ahmed to be shifted from Gujarat's Sabarmati jail to Prayagraj in 36 hours". India Today. from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ "SP candidate Atiq Ahmed booked; Mayawati takes a swipe at Akhilesh Yadav". 15 December 2016. from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- ^ "Allahabad HC reserves verdict in SHUATS assault case". Hindustan Times. 18 April 2017. from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- ^ Now |, Times. "Umesh Pal case: Minutes before murder, shooters seen setting off bomb in new CCTV footage". The Economic Times. from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ^ Salaria, Shikha (26 March 2023). "Atiq Ahmed to be shifted to Prayagraj for 2007 abduction case verdict, UP cops reach Gujarat jail". ThePrint. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ "Umesh Pal murder | U.P. Police doubles reward to ₹5 lakh for information on five accused". The Hindu. 14 March 2023. ISSN 0971-751X. from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ "Atiq Ahmed Son Encounter: Mafia Atiq's son Asad was killed in a police encounter". Yugantar Pravah. from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ "Who is Guddu Muslim whose name was the last thing Atiq, Ashraf uttered?". Hindustan Times. 16 April 2023. from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ^ "Ahmedabad: Asaduddin Owaisi to meet Atique Ahmed in jail". The Times of India. 20 September 2021. from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ "Atiq Ahmad's son Asad, wanted in Umesh Pal murder case, killed in encounter". Hindustan Times. 13 April 2023. from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ "Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed's son Asad, aide killed in encounter by UP Police". The Indian Express. 13 April 2023. from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ "'Nahi le gaye to nahi gaye' were Atiq's last words". The Times of India. 16 April 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
- ^ "Atiq Ahmad, his brother Ashraf shot dead in Prayagraj, 4 attackers arrested". Hindustan Times. 15 April 2023. from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ^ "'Main baat Guddu Muslim...': Atiq Ahmad, brother shot dead as they were speaking". Hindustan Times. 15 April 2023. from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ^ Kissu, Sagrika (16 April 2023). "'It was over in 30 seconds' – eyewitnesses recall fatal attack on Atiq Ahmed, Ashraf in Prayagraj". ThePrint. from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ^ "Posing as Journos 3 Shooters Kill Atiq, Ashraf Ahmed". News18. from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ^ "Ex MP Atiq Ahmad and His Brother Shot Dead in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh". Firstly Today. from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.