No mafia can spread terror in UP, says Yogi after Atiq's killing

Aditi Tandon

New Delhi, April 18

Days after the killing of gangster Atiq Ahmed and brother Ashraf in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday hammered his policy of zero tolerance for crime and said no mafia could spread terror in the state.

“No mafia can spread terror in UP. Every district is safe. UP’s environment is the most favourable for enterprise today,” the CM said today speaking in Lucknow after signing an MoU with the Centre under PM Mega Integrated Textiles and Apparel (PM Mitra) scheme which will entail the establishment of 1,000-acre wide textile parks in Lucknow and Hardoi.

“The state is capable of safeguarding the interests of capital investors now. Prior to 2017, UP was known for riots and crime. Today, all districts are witnessing growth and darkness has been eliminated,” said Adityanath, noting that over 700 riots took place in UP between 2012 and 2017 (Samajwadi Party rule) and over 364 riots from 2007-12 (BSP rule).

But not a single riot has taken place since 2017 when the BJP came to power, he said speaking in the aftermath of Atiq and Ashraf murders that are currently being probed by a three-member UP police SIT with a judicial commission also set up.

After the murders were caught on camera, the ruling BJP has taken a position that the law will take its course. Leaders, however, add that the deceased had left countless tragedies in their wake.

BJP MP from Kannauj Subrat Pathak said the murders were a matter for probe, adding, “Those killed were no saints. They were wanted in several criminal cases.”

State finance minister Suresh Khanna called the killings “divine justice”.  UP Jal Shakti minister Swatantra Dev Singh tweeted, “Paap, punya ka hisaab isi janam mein hota hai,” signalling the state government’s continuing focus on “law and order” as a campaign issue in the run-up to 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

UP government sources also slammed the opposition for linking the two killings to a specific community and cited UP police’s most wanted list to say, “The state does not classify criminals by religion or caste.”

The list of 27 most wanted UP criminals has six Muslims.

BJP sources privately flag Atiq gang’s atrocities with the history sheet of the gangster revealing that minority community members were the worst hit by his crimes.

“Victims in 13 of their top 20 cases were Muslims. Atiq didn’t spare even his neighbours and family,” UP government sources said, adding that this context has to be remembered even as the law catches up with Atiq’s killers with three persons arrested.

Atiq, a former Samajwadi Party MP, known for his reign of terror across Prayagraj and other parts of UP, faced about 100 cases ranging from forcible evictions, land grabs, abductions to murders.

Atiq and his brother were shot at around 10 pm on April 16 when they were being taken for a medical check-up after being remanded to police custody in the murder of Umesh Pal, a prime witness in the January 2005 killing of BSP MLA Raju Pal.

Of the 10 people named in the murder of Umesh Pal, six have been killed, including Atiq, his brother and son. Hunt is on for Atiq’s wife and three other alleged shooters.

Raju Pal was allegedly murdered by Atiq and his gang after he defeated Ashraf in the assembly election from Allahabad West seat. The election was necessitated in 2004 after Atiq, MLA from the segment, won the Lok Sabha poll from Phulpur.

After Raju Pal’s murder, Ashraf was elected from the assembly constituency, defeating the former’s wife.