Five UP policemen suspended in connection with Atiq’s murder

Prayagraj: Five police personnel, including an Station House Officer (SHO) of Shahganj police station, were suspended on Wednesday in connection with murder of mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Khalid Azeem alias Ashraf in police custody, official sources said here.

Sources said that SHO of Shahganj police station Ashwini Kumar Singh has been suspended on charges of committing laxity in execution of official duties. “Along with his two Sub-Inspectors Preet Pandey, Shiv Prasad Maurya, two constables Jaimesh Kumar and Sanjay Singh Prajapati have also been suspended,” they said.

It may be noted that Atiq and Ashraf were shot dead by three shooters outside Colvin hospital on April 15 while they were being taken for medical examination. Shahganj police station is located a few meters away from the Colvin hospital.

The shooters, who came in the guise of media persons, opened indiscriminate fire on Atiq and Ashraf in which a police personnel, a journalist and one of the shooters were injured. Atiq and Ashraf were remanded to police custody by the CJM court on April 13 in connection with murder of Umesh Pal, the main witness in Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal murder case.