Five cops suspended for negligence in handling Atique, brother's security

Five police officials, including the station officer of Shahganj police station, were suspended for "negligence" on Wednesday while taking gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf for medical examination in the state's first action against the police in relation with the killing of the duo.

Separately, the court of judicial magistrate allowed the newly formed special investigation team (SIT) to get custody of the assailants on remand for four days for questioning. Additional director general (Prayagraj zone) Bhanu Bhaskar told ET that the police will question the three assailants on their background, motive for killing the duo and where they procured the guns from, among other questions.

In the first information report (FIR) filed at the Shahganj police station last Saturday, a day after the brothers were killed, the police had said the assailants had claimed they wanted to kill the brothers to "make a name for themselves" in the world of crime. Police officials have said the assailants were also inspired by the likes of Lawrence Bishnoi, a Punjab-based gangster whose gang had shot to limelight last year after they claimed responsibility for the murder of singer Sidhu Moose Wala.


However, this explanation has not found many takers and the assailants will be questioned by the SIT now. The assailants used sophisticated Turkish guns, raising questions about how they got their hands on such weapons and whether they were hired by someone to eliminate the brothers.

The court where the assailants were brought on Wednesday was turned into a fortress with heavy police security as well as Rapid Action Force and Pradeshik Armed Constabulary personnel as the police was said to be apprehending an attack on them. Media persons were not allowed inside the premises.