NEW DELHI: The massive fallout of the shocking murders of gangster-turned-politican Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf on camera last week continues to dominate the headlines across the country.
Days after three men shot dead the gangster brothers at point-blank range in front of media and police, several questions still remain unanswered.
The Uttar Pradesh government, meanwhile, has formed a three member high-level committee to probe the killings and the motive behind the outrageous act.
Here's a compilation of 10 important stories to get a gist of what's happened after the murder ...
Supari, Lawrence Bishnoi, Guddu Muslim, ISI, LeT: Questions emerge after Atiq Ahmad's killing
The three assailants claimed to have killed the duo on Saturday night in Prayagraj to become "famous", but people aren't convinced that the sensational shooting was just to create a sensation. Several questions are being asked in hindsight. Were the duo targets of contract killing? That's a possibility, said those handling the probe. There were reports about three shooters being hired for Rs 10 lakh each by people who were afraid of Atiq spilling the beans about their links with him and wanted to silence the gangster and his brother. Read more here
'No mafia can ...': Yogi's first reaction after killings
In his first public reaction on the law and order in the state after the brazen murders, chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said that the government is capable of safeguarding the interests and capital of investors and no mafia can spread terror in UP anymore. Read more about what he said
'God will do justice': Slain MLA Raju Pal's wife said in 2005
Wife of slain MLA from Allahabad West Raju Pal had said "bhagwan nayay karega (God will do justice)" when interviewed on the night of her husband's murder allegedly by Ashraf and his henchmen in 2005. Her prophecy came true on Saturday night when Atiq and her brother Ashraf were shot dead. Read more here
With Atiq, Ashraf gone, what happens to don's empire?
With the gangster brothers gone and many family members either in jail or in hiding, the million-dollar question is who will look after the gangster's ill-gotten empire worth crores. Based on the crackdown on the 'illegal' properties of Atiq and his henchmen, police have compiled records of assets in Prayagraj, Kaushambi and other districts of the state. Read more here
Turkish pistols used in murder
Zigana pistols, used by shooters in the killing of mafia don Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf, have been a favourite of Delhi's top gangsters as well. In the past few years, police have seized the pistols on several occasions. They are a weapon of choice of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. What makes Zigana such a rage among gangsters? Read more here
When it came to crime, caste & religion were no bar for Atiq, Ashraf
The general perception is that politics thrives on caste and religion, but crime does not. But, a closer look at the list of those who fell victim to slain gangster brothers Atiq and Ashraf's alleged criminal deeds shows that a large chunk hailed from the minority community. Of the 25 most heinous criminal cases that were registered against Atiq and Ashraf at least 14 of them had members of the minority community at the receiving end. Read more here
Why didn't cops shoot at assailants? Queries emerge
Often described as "trigger happy" and experts at "encounters", Uttar Pradesh police personnel - 18 of them - were caught on the wrong foot when three youths posing as newsmen shot Atiq and Ashraf under full media glare and heavy police presence in Prayagraj on Saturday night. Police managed to catch the three accused alive only to be confronted with questions such as why the police force, known for encounters, failed to shoot at the assailants. Read more here
Atiq Ahmad killers moved from Naini to 'safer' Pratapgarh prison
The trio that shot dead the duo in police custody were Monday shifted from Prayagraj’s Naini jail to Pratapgarh, based on a threat-perception assessment attributed to the presence of a son and some associates of the slain ex-MLA in that prison. Read more here
Arun Maurya told family he was going to friend's wedding in Delhi
18-year-old Arun Maurya, one of the three young killers, had left home almost a week before the Saturday night's sensational twin murder in Prayagraj. Arun's grandfather said he had informed him on April 9 that he was going to attend a friend's wedding in Delhi. His phone had remained not reachable since. Read more here
How outlaws used politics to ‘normalise’ themselves
Atiq Ahmed was not the first person in Uttar Pradesh to come with the deadly combo of crime and politics, and certainly he will not be the last name in the league. Since the ’80s, the list has only grown longer. What has been shocking for the people was that political parties did not shy away from taking the “services” of such persons, though there can be a debate on which party colluded more with criminals. Read more here
