Video Producer/Editor: Shohini Bose
Moments after gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were killed by unknown assailants on Saturday, 15 April, in the presence of police and the media, several Opposition leaders questioned the state of law and order in Uttar Pradesh.
Taking to Twitter, former UP chief minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said that the morale of criminals in the state has peaked.
"Crime has reached its peak in UP and the morale of the criminals is high. When someone can be shot dead openly amidst police presence, what about the safety of the general public? An atmosphere of fear is being created among the public, and it seems that some people are deliberately creating such an atmosphere," Yadav tweeted.
'UP Has Become 'Encounter Pradesh'': BSP Chief Mayawati
BSP chief and former UP chief minister Mayawati wrote, "Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf being shot dead in public, while they were in police custody, raises serious questions about the UP government's handling of law and order. It is akin to the murder of Umesh Pal that had taken place."
Mayawati added, "It would be better if the Supreme Court takes note of this extremely serious incident and conducts an enquiry. Instead of the rule of law being imposed via legal means, Uttar Pradesh seems to be becoming 'Encounter Pradesh'. Is that what should happen? Something to think about."
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslim (AIMIM) chief and MP Asadusddin Owaisi said that Atiq's murder is a testimony of the Yogi Adityanath government's failure.
"Atiq and his brother were in police custody. He was handcuffed. JSR (Jai Shri Ram) slogans were also raised. The killing of both is the failure of Yogi's law and order system. Those celebrating 'encounter raj' are also responsible for this murder," Owaisi tweeted.
‘Subverting Rule of Law Not Beneficial for Our Democracy’: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wrote, "The law of our country is dictated by the Constitution, and that law of the land is supreme. The guilty should receive strict punishments, but those punishments should be in accordance with the law."
She added, "Subverting the rule of law and due process for political motives, is not beneficial for our democracy."
An official statement by the Congress, issued by the party's Communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh, further stated, "Subverting or violating the rule of law and judicial process for any political purpose is dangerous for our democracy. Whoever does this, or gives protection to those who do such acts, should also be held responsible and the law should be strictly enforced on them."
Atiq and Ashraf were killed while being taken for medical examination in Prayagraj, when they were shot dead while speaking to the media.
The attackers have been taken into custody by the police.
Reacting to the murder of Atiq and his brother Ashraf, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) MP Chaudhary Jayant Singh took to Twitter to ask: "How is this possible in a democracy?"
Singh, an MP from UP and the National Chairman of The Rashtriya Lok Dal Party also spoke with The Quint’s Piyush Rai and said that the murders were impossible without the complicity of the party in government.
“Such an environment was created when the CM said in the Assembly - Mitti mein mila dunga (Will finish them, whereas he has taken an oath on the constitution of having faith in the legal processes, which was denied to Atiq and his family. We have no solidarity with his, given his long career in crime, but he deserved justice,” Singh said.
After the killings, Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad 'Ravan' took to Twitter and said, "This is not just a murder case but an example of violence and terrorism growing under the patronage of power."
BSP MP Kunwar Danish Ali, told news agency ANI, "It is disheartening to see UP Police being used for political gains. Court gives punishment to culprits. This murder has challenged the power of state government. This is pure anarchy. It will lead to nowhere."
‘Aasmani Faisla’: Suresh Khanna, UP Minister
Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister and BJP leader Suresh Khanna addressed the media after the two were killed and said that it was 'aasmani faisla' (divine justice).
"When crime increases beyond limits, justice is done from above. The government tried in every way to maintain law and order. The Yogi government had given the slogan of zero tolerance against crime, the government is sticking to it," Khanna said.
Another minister in the UP government and former BJP state unit chief, Swatantra Dev Singh, wrote in a cryptic tweet, “Paap, punya ka hisaab isi janm main hota hai". (one's good and bad acts are settled in this lifetime only).”
‘BJP Has Turned India Into a Mafia Republic’: TMC’s Mahua Moitra
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra tweeted, "This is the death of the rule of law."
‘Two Murders in UP…’: Kapil Sibal’s Dig at State’s Law & Order Situation
Former Congress leader Kapil Sibal slammed the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh following the murder of Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf.
The former Union Minister tweeted, "Two murders in UP: 1) Atiq Ahmed and brother Ashraf, 2) Rule of law."
Murder in Presence of Police a Serious Matter: Sanjay Raut
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut raised questions about the Uttar Pradesh Police in the Atiq Ahmed murder case. "A murder happened & Section 144 was imposed, the government there (in UP) did it. But if this incident took place despite the presence of police, then it is a serious matter. This raises a big question on law and order," said Raut, as per ANI.
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