Dreaded gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed’s son Asad, wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case, was gunned down by Uttar Pradesh police in a fierce encounter in Jhansi today along with his close aide Ghulam as part of the Yogi Aditya Nath government’s drive to clear the state of organised crime.

Ghulam is reported to have opened fire at a team of Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force around noon today and the two were killed in retaliatory action, police said. Sophisticated weapons, new cellphones and SIM cards have been recovered from them, they added.

“Asad and Ghulam were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj and were carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh each. They were killed in an encounter with the UP STF team,” said Special Additional Director General (Law and Order) Prasahant Kumar.

“The UP STF team was led by Deputy SP Navendu and Vimal. Sophisticated foreign made weapons were recovered from the accused,” the officer added.

Umesh Pal was the key witness in the BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case. Both Umesh and his police security guard Sandeep Nishad were shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj following which his wife, Jaya Pal, filed a case.

According to police sources, Asad Ahmed had fled to Lucknow after the killing of Umesh Pal. He later moved to Kanpur and then Meerut before reaching Delhi, it is learnt. He then decided to flee to Madhya Pradesh. He reached Jhansi and was on his way to the state border on a bike when police intercepted him. Asad was reportedly in disguise. Police sources said they had an informer in Atiq Ahmed’s gang who told them about Asad’s whereabouts.

Umesh Pal’s murder also put the spotlight back on Atiq Ahmed, a gangster-turned-politician with over 100 cases against him. A former Samajwadi Party MP, he was convicted last month in a kidnapping case and sentenced to life imprisonment. This case related to the kidnapping of Umesh Pal back in 2006 — 17 years before he was eventually murdered.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting on law and order after the killing of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed’s son, Asad, in an encounter.

CM Yogi also lauded the Special Task Force (STF) team which was involved in the shootout. According to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s Office, Yogi was apprised about the encounter by the Principal Secretary (Home).

A report was also placed before the Chief Minister on this whole matter.

Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya congratulated the UP STF for this action. “Police fired in retaliation after they were fired upon by them. It is a message to criminals that this is the new India. It is Yogi govt in UP, not Samajwadi Party in power which gave protection to criminals,” he added.

“I thank CM Yogi ji for serving justice and I appeal to him to give us justice ahead also. We have full faith in CM,” said Shanti Devi, mother of Umesh Pal, the advocate who was killed in broad daylight in Prayagraj earlier this year.

“This is a tribute to my son. I thank the Chief Minister and the police department which discharged their duties,” Shanti Devi told reporters in Prayagraj.

Jaya Devi, Umesh Pal’s widow also thanked the chief minister.

“I thank the Chief Minister who took such a decision. He gave punishment to the killers of his daughter’s husband. It is justice. I expect that the Chief Minister will do good whatever he does. I express my gratitude to the Chief Minister who is like a fatherly figure,” she added.

The killing of the gangster has added to the CM Yogi’s credibility as a crusader against organised crime in the state.

Last week, Yogi had announced that “No mafia can walk with its head held high inside Uttar Pradesh—a pledge that was followed by today’s encounter.

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