UP court finds Atiq Ahmed guilty in 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case

Jailed gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed has been found guilty on Tuesday in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case by the Prayagraj MP-MLA court. The court sentenced Atiq Ahmed, Dinesh Pasi, and Khan Saulat Hanif to life imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh each. This is the first time the jailed politician has been convicted. Seven others including Ahmed's brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf have been acquitted in the case. 

As reported by ANI, the gangster was brought to court amid heavy security. Soon after the verdict came out, a man named Varun said that the Pal community as well the entire lawyer community would be happy if he made Atiq Ahmed wear a garland of footwear.

Varun told the news agency ANI outside the court premises, “If I make Atiq Ahmed wear a garland of footwear, the Pal community and the entire lawyer community will be happy. He killed a member of the lawyer community, they will be happy that he has come to hear his sentencing by wearing a garland of shoes. These are the footwear of the members of family of Umesh Pal and Raju Pal.”

Commenting on the sentencing of Atiq Ahmed, Umesh Pal's mother and wife said that they are satisfied with the verdict and have faith in Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Umesh Pal's mother Shanti Devi said, "It has been 18 years since my son was kidnapped. He was a fighter. I have faith in the court. He (Atiq Ahmed0 was sentenced to life imprisonment for kidnapping my son but he should be given a death sentence for the murder of my son. I have faith in UP CM Yogi Adityanath." 

The late Umesh Pal's wife Jaya Devi further said that it will be a big problem for them and society if Ahmed and his brother survive. Devi said, "We are satisfied with the judgment as of now. Atiq Ahmed should be given a death sentence for killing my husband. We want justice and I request UP CM Yogi Adityanath to help us. If he and his brother will survive, it will be a problem for us and the society."

After the verdict, Atiq Ahmed's lawyer Daya Shankar Mishra said that they will appeal the Prayagraj court's verdict in the High Court. He said, "It will be done in the High Court, it cannot be done anywhere else." Meanwhile, UP Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said that the state government is eradicating criminals by running a drive and the Court is being requested that every criminal gets stringent punishment.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court has also dismissed the former Lok Sabha MP’s plea citing a threat to his life in Uttar Pradesh. The top court asked Ahmed to approach the Allahabad High Court. While rejecting Ahmed’s petition, the Supreme Court said it is not a matter of the court’s interference. 

“Go to the High Court. You’re in custody at the moment. The state machinery will take care of you,” the Supreme Court was quoted as saying by India Today. Ahmed’s lawyer had said that the state is supposed to give protection to his client and that his client is not avoiding any investigation. 

Ahmed’s lawyer said, “They are supposed to provide protection, but in view of the threat issued in the assembly, he should be given protection. He is not avoiding any investigation.”

Atiq Ahmed has been sentenced in the 2006 Umesh Pal murder and kidnapping case. Umesh Pal, a zila panchayat member, was a witness in the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal murder case. BSP MLA Raju Pal was shot by assailants outside his residence in Prayagraj’s Sulem Sarai area in 2005. The incident took place months after Raju Pal won against Atiq Ahmed's younger brother Khalid Azim from the Allahabad (West) assembly seat in his electoral debut. 

Umesh Pal was abducted on February 28, 2006, in Prayagraj after Pal refused to retract his statement and buckle under pressure from the five-time MLA. Ahmed allegedly abducted Pal from a Land Cruiser near Phansi Imla of the Dhumnaganj police station area. Pal was kept at Ahmed’s Chakia office, beaten up and electrocuted. 

Ahmed made Pal give a written statement in his favour on March 1, 2006, that he was not present at the scene and did not want to testify. Following this, an FIR was registered against Atiq, his brother Ashraf and four other unidentified people. Chargesheet in the case mentioned 11 people as accused. One of the accused Ansar Ahmed died. Ahmed has been named in more than 100 criminal cases including the Umesh Pal murder case, as per police. 

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