Atiq Ahmad, Ashraf’s assailants shifted from Prayagraj. Here’s why

The officials cited ‘security concerns’ for making the transfer of the three assailants. 

The official said the transfer was done on administrative grounds.

The assailants — Mohit alias Sunny (23) of Hamirpur, Lavlesh Tiwari (22) of Banda and Arun Maurya (18) of Kasganj — were arrested soon after the dramatic shootout outside the Prayagraj hospital where policemen were escorting the brothers for a medical check-up Saturday night.

The trio were taken from Prayagraj at 12 noon and reached Pratapgarh at 2.10 pm, officials said.

One of the sons of Atiq Ahmad is currently lodged in the Prayagraj Central Jail in Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Police has formed a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the killing of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf in Prayagraj, a senior official said on Monday.

The three assailants of Atiq and his brother Ashraf has been arrested by Uttar Pradesh police on Monday, however, the Uttar Pradesh police are still on the lookout for the two others who helped the shooters. 

Police sources further said that the police have started looking for two people in the case of helping the accused persons who killed Atiq.

In this regard, four people have been detained, and are being interrogated.

Police said that the two people whom the police are looking for are being raided at five places.

Police claimed that the two suspected accused provided help to the three accused, which could include arranging weapons, and organizing their stay in Prayagraj.

Days after Atiq Ahmed’s son Asad was killed in an encounter in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi, the gangster-turned-politician and his brother, Ashraf Ahmed, were killed on Saturday while being taken for a medical examination in Prayagraj.

Both the gangsters collapsed on the spot after they were shot at nearly point-blank range.

The bodies of the gangster-turned-politician and his brother were brought to Kasari Masari burial ground in Prayagraj for burial.

Minor sons of gangster Atiq Ahmed were brought to the burial ground from a juvenile home.

Atiq Ahmed was accused in the 2005 Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal murder case and also in the Umesh Pal murder case which happened in February this year.

Uttar Pradesh Police so far arrested a total of three shooters in this incident.