The Uttar Pradesh Police on Monday gunned down an alleged shooter of the Atiq Ahmed gang during an encounter in the Kaudhiyara area of Prayagraj in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case. According to reports, the shooter, who was seriously injured during the encounter and succumbed while being rushed to the hospital, has been identified as Vijay Chaudhary alias ‘Usman.’ A policeman has also sustained injuries during the encounter and has been taken to hospital for treatment.
The slain shooter is said to be the first among the assailants who attacked Umesh Pal and his security guards on February 24 this year. Usman was rushed to the Swaroop Rani Nehru Medical Hospital after the encounter but he succumbed to his injuries on the way. The UP Police had earlier declared a reward of Rs 50,000 on Usman.
It may be recalled that Umesh Pal, the key witness in the BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case, and his police security guard Sandeep Nishad were shot dead outside his home in the Dhoomanganj area of Prayagraj.
Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed is the prime accused in the Raju Pal murder case and is currently lodged in a Gujarat jail. A reward of Rs 2.5 lakh each for the arrest or giving information for the arrest of five persons involved in the killing of Umesh Pal was announced by UP Police on Sunday.
Based on a complaint lodged by Umesh Pal’s wife Jaya Pal, a case was registered at Dhoomanganj police station against Atiq Ahmed, his brother Ashraf, his wife Shaista Parveen, two sons, aides Guddu Muslim and Ghulam, and nine others.