Who is Atiq Ahmed, the gangster-turned politician convicted in Umesh Pal murder case?

New Delhi: The gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed was convicted by a Prayagraj court on Tuesday, over 2006 kidnapping of Umesh Pal , a key witness in the killing of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Raju Pal. Along with gangster, 2 more including Dinesh Pati & Khan Saulat Hafi have been held guilty by the court.

Umesh Pal was shot dead in Prayagraj on February 24, apparently by the shooters of gangster.

Atiq Ahmad was brought from Gujarat’s Sabarmati jail to Naini jail in Prayagraj yesterday. A team of 45 UP police personnel were put on duty for the 1300 km journey and he was kept in high-security barrack in Prayagraj jail, last night.

Who is gangster Atiq Ahmed?

Atiq Ahmed is a dreaded gangster of Uttar Pradesh and has over 100 criminal cases filed against him. His ‘reign of terror’ started when he joined the underworld in late 1970s.

The gangster made a switch from crime to politics, by first contesting Assembly elections as Independent candidate and then joining the Samajwadi Party (SP). He is a five-time legislator and also went to become Member of Parliament.

He grabbed media’s attention recently as he was accused of hatching a conspiracy to kill Umesh Pal, the key witness in 2005 murder case of BSP MLA Raju Pal. Umesh and 2 of his associates were killed in Prayagraj shootout on February 24, this year.

Atiq Ahmed has more than 100 cases lodged against him. Out of 100 cases, 50 of them are said to be under trial.

He has been behind bars in Sabarmati Central jail after SC order since 2019. He was accused of hatching plot to attack real estate developer Mohit Jaiswal, from the jail.

Atiq’s tryst with politics began in 1989 as he contested and won the Allahabad West Assembly seat as Independent candidate and went on to get elected for 2 more times as Independent.

Atiq joined Samajwadi Party and also became SP lawmaker in Lok Sabha from Phulpur. He also contested 2014 LS elections on SP ticket but lost the polls.

Gangster Atiq’s wife Shaista joined Mayawati’s BSP this year and has even announced to contest the urban civic polls.