Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday ordered a high-level probe into the murder of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Khalid Azeem alias Ashraf in Prayagraj.
"The chief minister has constituted a three-member judicial commission to probe the killing of Ahmad and Ashraf," Special DG, Law and Order, Prashant Kumar said.
The chief minister has also instructed the state police officers to be on high alert and ensure law and order are maintained across the state. "CM has also appealed to people not to pay any attention to rumours. Strict action will be taken against those who spread rumours," the official statement from Chief Minister's Office said.
Meanwhile, prohibitory orders under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) have been issued in all districts of Uttar Pradesh to maintain law and order, they said.
Three people have been arrested in connection with the incident. Police sources said more details in this regard will be disclosed later.
The UP Police have also conducted a flag march in Lucknow's Husainabad, Mathura and Ayodhya regions. A company of Rapid Action Force has also been deployed in the Prayagraj to maintain high security.
Superintendent of Police Avinash Pandey told ANI," We are keeping vigil. After looking at the sensitivity of the situation in the district we are on alert. We are talking to the public to maintain peace".
There are also reports that the internet is down in the area.
Opposition reacts
The Opposition leaders have questioned the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh and sought the dissolution of the Yogi government after the murder of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf while in police custody in Prayagraj.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said crime has reached its peak in Uttar Pradesh and criminals are unfazed. "Crime has reached its peak in Uttar Pradesh and the criminals are unfazed. When someone can be shot dead amidst a police cordon, then what about the safety of the general public? An atmosphere of fear is being created among the public due to this and it seems that some people are deliberately creating such an atmosphere," he tweeted.
Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary asked if 'jungle raj' prevails in the state. "Nobody is sympathising with Atiq Ahmad because a criminal should be punished. But anyone who will see this video will question if we are a democracy. Every criminal has the right to be heard in court and be convicted there. But you can see they were killed in police custody in the open," he said.
He further said, "The chief minister should answer what kind of law and order he has established in the state. Is this not jungle raj and a ground to call for emergency rule in UP?"
In a tweet, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said, "Two murders in UP: 1) Atiq Ahmed and brother Ashraf 2) Rule of law."
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP from Amroha Danish Ali said the "cold-blooded" murder of Ahmad and his brother is the "height of anarchy" in Uttar Pradesh.
"This can't happen without a go-ahead from the top. In any other democracy the state government must have been dismissed for such a heinous crime against the rule of law," he said in a tweet.
Meanwhile, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also said the law and order failed in the state. "Atiq and his brother were killed while in police custody and were handcuffed. Slogans of JSR were also raised. Their murder is a perfect example of Yogi's big failure of law and order. Those celebrating encounter-raj are equally responsible for this murder," AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi tweeted.
