Atiq Ahmed’s brother-in-law, who funded Umesh Pal shooters, held from Meerut

In a joint operation, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) and Prayagraj Police have arrested Atiq Ahmed’s brother-in-law, Akhlaq Ahmed, in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case.

According to the police, Akhlaq Ahmed had a key role in financing the shooters of Umesh Pal, a prime witness in the 2005 murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal.

Umesh Pal was shot dead in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj on February 24. Atiq Ahmed is the main accused in the murder case of BSP legislator Raju Pal, which took place in 2005. He is also accused of killing Umesh Pal, the prime witness of Raju Pal’s murder.

Police had earlier questioned Akhlaq Ahmed, a resident of Meerut, multiple times in the Umesh Pal murder case. He has now been arrested from Meerut.

An MP-MLA court held gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and two others guilty in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case and sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment for life. Ahmed’s brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf and six others were acquitted by the court.

This is Ahmed’s first conviction even though more than 100 cases were registered against the former Samajwadi Party (SP) MP over the years.

Atiq Ahmed was brought from the Sabarmati jail to Prayagraj by road for the hearing in court. He was kept in the Naini jail before the hearing.

A day after being convicted in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case, he was brought back to Sabarmati jail in Ahmedabad amid tight security arrangements.

UMESH PAL KIDNAPPING CASE
After the killing of BSP MLA Raju Pal on January 25, 2005, Umesh Pal, then a zila panchayat member, had told police he was a witness to the murder.

Umesh Pal alleged that when he refused to retract and buckle under pressure from Ahmed, he was kidnapped at gunpoint on February 28, 2006. The FIR was registered on July 5, 2007, against Ahmed, his brother, and four unidentified people.

An FIR was registered against Ahmed, his brother and nine others on July 5, 2007. The police had submitted a chargesheet in the matter against the 11 people. One of them later died.

Ahmad and Ashraf are also accused of being involved in a conspiracy, while they were both in prison, to kill Umesh Pal.

UMESH PAL MURDER