Prayagraj: A case was lodged against mafia-turned politician former MP Atique Ahmed, his wife Shaista Parveen, brother Ashraf, two sons and his accomplices in connection with murder of Umesh Pal, the main witness in Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal, and his security guard at Dhumanganj police station on Saturday, a police officer said.
Station House Officer (SHO) Dhumanganj Rajesh Maurya said that the case has been lodged on the basis of the complaint given by Umesh’s wife Jaya Pal. “Atique, his wife Shaista, brother Ashraf, both sons, accomplices Guddu Muslim, Ghulam and other accomplices have been accused in the FIR,” he said.
He said that two police personnel, including Sandeep Nishad and Raghavendra, who were deployed in Umesh Pal’s security, also sustained serious injuries in the firing. “One of the gunners Sandeep Nishad died during treatment, whereas Raghavendra is being treated,” he said.
It may be noted that Umesh Pal and his security guards were shot in front of his house in Sulem Sarai in Dhumanganj area on Friday evening. “They were taken to the Swaroop Rani Nehru hospital where first Umesh and then his security guard were declared dead,” sources said.
Umesh Pal, who was considered close to Raju Pal’s wife and former MLA Puja Pal, was attacked earlier also, but he escaped unhurt at that time. He received several life threats due to which the government provided him with two security guards.
Raju Pal, BSP MLA from Allahabad West seat was shot dead in Sulem Sarai area on January 25, 2005. A case was lodged against former MP Atique Ahmed, his younger brother former MLA Khalid Azim alias Ashraf and others in the case.
Umesh Pal was also kidnapped by Atique’s henchmen and a case was also lodged in this regard. CBI investigated the Raju Pal murder case in which Umesh Pal was the main witness. This was the reason he was threatened with life several times.
