Prayagraj: Bahubali Atiq Ahmed was sentenced to life imprisonment after 17 years in the Umesh Pal kidnapping case, but his brother Ashraf was acquitted by the court. SP MLA Pooja Pal has expressed extreme displeasure over this decision of the Prayagraj court. In the year 2005, Pooja’s husband, the then BSP MLA Raju Pal was shot dead by the Atiq gang. Pooja Pal termed Ashraf more dreaded than Atiq Ahmed. He said that the acquittal of Ashraf is very shocking as he is a hardened criminal. Both the brothers are two sides of the same coin.
Talking to reporters, Pooja Pal, MLA from Chail seat of Kaushambi said – I welcome the decision of the court. But it is my opinion that those who have been acquitted should not have been. This will increase the morale of the people of Atiq. His shooters are still out. The culprits in the Raju Pal murder case will be hanged, but they are in extreme danger. Describing Atiq and his brother Ashraf as very influential, he said that they even interfere in governance and get dates set in court as per their wish.
Umesh was abducted to prevent him from testifying
Let us tell you that in the Umesh Pal kidnapping case, the court has acquitted seven accused including Ashraf. While Atiq Ahmed, his lawyer Khan Shaulat Hanif and shooter Dinesh Pasi were sentenced to life imprisonment. A fine of Rs one lakh each has also been imposed on all the three convicts. Umesh Pal was an eyewitness in the BSP MLA Rajupal murder case on 25 January 2005. Umesh Pal was abducted on February 28, 2006 from near Phansi Imli in Dhumanganj area to prevent him from testifying in the case. Umesh Pal was pressurized and tortured to give false testimony.
Case was filed after one and a half years
An FIR was registered in this matter on July 5, 2007, about 16 months after the incident. In this case, 11 people including Atiq and Ashraf were made accused. One of the accused, Ansar Pehalwan, has died. On February 24, Umesh Pal was murdered while returning home from the hearing of the same case. However, before the murder of Umesh, the evidence in this case was over.