Full story: Asad, ‘go-to-man’ in Umesh Pal murder case, shot dead

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Atiq Ahmad cries in court on being informed of son death!

Prayagraj, 13 April: Asad, the son of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad, was killed in an encounter with UP Police near Jhansi on Thursday. The UP STF squad was led by DySP Navendu and DySP Vimal at the time of the encounter. The encounter site has yielded sophisticated foreign-made weaponry.

Asad Ahmad had a Rs 5 lakh reward on his head. According to police, Asad not only painstakingly planned the attack on Umesh Pal, but also managed gang member cooperation and oversaw logistics. Asad emerged as the pivotal role, the “go-to-man” in the Umesh Pal murder shootout. He allegedly played a critical role in coordinating with the shooters, identifying the SUVs to be used in the crime, and meticulously planned the team’s execution and escape route.

Asad and another suspect, Ghulam, were sought in the Umesh Pal murder case and faced a Rs 5 lakh reward. Both dead defendants were found with sophisticated foreign-made guns. Asad was killed in an encounter on the same day that Atiq Ahmad and his brother appeared in court in connection with the case. Atiq was transported by vehicle from Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati prison to Prayagraj for trial. Khalid Azim alias Ashraf, his brother, was transported from the Bareilly prison.

Atiq Ahmad sobbed in court after learning of the encounter of his son Asad. He and his brother Ashraf appeared in court on Thursday in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case. They were brought before Chief Judicial Magistrate Dinesh Gautam’s court at 11:10 a.m., under heavy security.

While Atiq Ahmad was transported by truck from Gujarat’s Sabarmati Jail to Prayagraj for his production, his brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf was transported from a Bareilly jail.

On February 24, this year, Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal, and his two police security guards were shot dead outside his residence in Prayagraj’s Dhoomanganj district.