Soon after an encounter that resulted in the killing of Don Atiq’s son, Asad, and his accomplice three days ago, Don Atiq and his brother Ashraf were shot dead last night while being taken to the Motilal Nehru Hospital at Prayagraj. Atiq was denied participating in the burial of his slain son for security reasons, but strangely, the journalists seemed to know of his hospital movements and routes in advance.
Atiq was giving a press interview as he walked, surrounded on his back by the U.P. Police and led by the inquisitive journalists. Suddenly, three youths broke the cordon and took shots at the don and his brother from a point-blank range, leaving the mafia dons spot dead. 18 rounds were pumped into the bodies to ensure sure death, which revealed the firmness of the motive of the killers.
The assailants immediately threw their modern pistols, weapons of the killing, and surrendered to the police and were apprehended. U.P. CM Yogi promptly ordered a probe, and the questioning is on. It may be premature to criticize anyone, including the Yogi government, at this juncture, as any mafia don would have many sworn enemies, including from the opposition gangs. His sponsors in the crime, leaders and politicians who were afraid of Atiq spilling the beans while in custody, might have prompted the killings.
Killings are chilling, whether carried out by the security forces in the name of encounters or by anyone else in the name of settling scores. This is bad and can never be a justification or means to end the long reign of criminal empires. Most express, though, a relief at the end of the mafia in the U.P.
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix
