The UP Police have been acquitted in the murder case of mafia Atique Ahmed and Ashraf. In a report presented to the assembly on Thursday, the judicial commission concluded that the murders were not premeditated. The police had no means to prevent the incident. No negligence was found on the part of the police.
No Collusion Between State and Police Forces
The investigation report on the murders of Uttar Pradesh mafia and former MP Atique Ahmed and his brother Ashraf revealed no collusion between the state and police forces. A five-member commission headed by former Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court, Dilip Baba Saheb Bhonsle, concluded that the murder was a premeditated conspiracy that could not have been avoided. No evidence was found implicating the police or state machinery.
Murder Occurred in April Last Year
The commission submitted its report to the government, after which the Yogi Cabinet approved placing the investigation report before the assembly. On April 15, 2023, Atique Ahmed and Ashraf were murdered at Colvin Hospital in Prayagraj. The investigation involved reviewing statements from 87 witnesses, CCTV, and video footage, revealing that the incident was sudden and the police's response was immediate and appropriate.
Police Had No Time to Intervene
The murder unfolded in just nine seconds, leaving the police no time to intervene. The report noted that the police deployed more personnel than the standard to protect Atique and Ashraf. Security measures from the jail to remand were strong. However, media presence hindered police operations, raising questions about the media’s activities during the murder.
Why Did the Assailants Murder?
The commission shed light on the assailants' motive, highlighting their aim to gain notoriety by committing the murders in front of the media. This incident caused significant loss of crucial information for the police, including associations of Atique and Ashraf with terrorist organizations and ISI. The commission’s report made it clear that the police and state machinery had no involvement in the murders. It was a premeditated conspiracy that could not have been prevented. The role of media and police readiness was also elaborately discussed in the report.