In a shocking incident that has sent shockwaves across India, former member of parliament Atique Ahmad and his brother Ashraf were shot dead by gunmen posing as journalists in the northern city of Prayagraj on Saturday. The attack was carried out while the two men were being taken to a hospital by police in handcuffs, and was captured on live TV.
Atique Ahmad, 61, had been jailed since 2019 and was convicted of kidnapping. He and his brother were answering reporters’ questions when they were shot at close range by the attackers, who had posed as journalists. Three persons who had allegedly carried out the attack were later arrested and are being questioned by the police.
According to reports, the gunmen used expensive Turkish pistols costing Rs seven lakh, which are banned in India. The assailants were also seen shouting Hindu slogans after the attack, leading to speculation about a possible sectarian motive behind the killings. The two victims were from India’s Muslim minority, but the police have not confirmed whether they are investigating the attack as a hate crime.
Atique Ahmad was reportedly facing more than 100 different cases and was deeply involved in India’s criminal underworld. Reports suggest that the attackers were petty criminals, but it is not clear what their motive was. The pair were being taken to the hospital for medical examinations when the attack took place and were surrounded by police officers.
The incident has sparked outrage across India, with opposition parties accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of ruling by fear. Hundreds of politicians belonging to all parties across India have criminal cases pending against them, with poor Uttar Pradesh a particular hotspot. Nearly half of government ministers in the state, including the state premier, reportedly have criminal cases pending against them, according to the Association for Democratic Reforms, an independent monitoring group.
The incident comes just days after police in the same state of Uttar Pradesh said they had shot dead Atique Ahmad’s 19-year-old son and his accomplice in a shootout. Both were wanted in a case of murder. Scores of people facing charges have been killed in the state in recent years in similar so-called “police encounters”, which rights groups say are often extra-judicial executions.
The killing of Atique Ahmad and his brother on live TV has sparked a wave of condemnation, with many demanding justice for the victims and an end to the culture of violence and impunity that pervades Indian politics.
