On the 15th of April 2023, three gunmen shot and killed Mafia Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf outside a hospital in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. This incident occurred in front of media cameras. Numerous questions were raised over the killing of the mafia brothers.
The Uttar Pradesh government appointed a five-member judicial commission to investigate the matter. Dilip B Bhosale, former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, presided over this judicial panel. On the 1st of August 2024, the commission presented its report to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. OpIndia has accessed the commission’s report.
In this case, the judicial commission found no negligence on the part of the police and granted the police a clean chit. Other than this, the judicial commission’s report discusses Atiq Ahmed’s health. The report also raised questions about the role of media. According to the report, Atiq Ahmed repeatedly peed and pooped in his pyjamas.
The judicial commission has stated that the police were not involved in this incident. The commission said that the killing of the mafia duo was not carried out at the police’s behest adding that it was not pre-planned and could not have been prevented.
Furthermore, the commission stated that the police exercised prudence in taking Atiq and Ashraf to the hospital. The police response and actions during the shootings of Atiq and Ashraf cannot be regarded as wrong. The commission stated that the event ended in 9 seconds and that the police did not fire on the three attackers, which was right.
The commission’s investigation concluded that the police were proper overall. Aside from that, the commission’s report disclosed facts about Atiq’s health before his murder. The police told the commission that Atiq had been suffering from respiratory and stomach issues before the incident.
A day before the incident, Atiq defecated in his pyjamas on the 14th of April 2023. Atiq and Ashraf were then examined by a doctor. On the 14th of April 2023, Atiq was also sent to the hospital, and while returning, he pooped in his trousers again.
The report said that Atiq Ahmed had diabetes and excessive blood pressure. He often used to soil his pajamas while in custody. The police officers accompanying him had told their superiors about this. The panel has questioned the media’s role in this incident.
The panel has stated that in its haste to obtain a statement from Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf Ahmed, the media lacked discipline. In addition, due to the media’s flashlight, the police officers protecting Atiq and Ashraf were unable to see while the perpetrators opened fire. The panel stated that the media’s role in this case was unsatisfactory.
