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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.
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."
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.
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."
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).
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).”
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra tweeted, "This is the death of the rule of law."
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."
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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