3 accused of killing Atiq, Ashraf produced in court, police seek 7-day custody

Prayagraj: The three persons accused of killing gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Mohammad Ashraf were produced in the court of chief judicial magistrate (CJM) here on Wednesday morning.

Police have sought a seven-day remand of the accused.

The three accused -- Lovelesh Tiwari, Mohit and Arun Kumar Maurya -- were brought to the court of CJM DK Gautam amid tight security. They were taken away after an hour-long appearance in the court, District government advocate Gulab Chandra Agrahari said.

Atiq Ahmad (60) and his brother Ashraf were shot dead at point-blank range by three men posing as journalists in the middle of a media interaction on Saturday night while police personnel were escorting them to a medical college in Prayagraj for a checkup.

The brothers, both jailed in Prayagraj, were in handcuffs when they were killed in full view of camera crews. The horrifying visuals were circulated widely on social media platforms and television channels. The last rites of Ahmad's son Asad, who was gunned down in a police encounter in Jhansi on April 13, were performed here just hours before the shooting.

An FIR under Indian Penal Code sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and under the Arms Act was registered against the three alleged assailants of Atiq and Ashraf at Shahganj police station.

On Sunday, these three accused were produced before the remand magistrate who sent them to judicial custody for 14 days. They were initially lodged in Naini jail but were shifted to Pratapgarh prison citing security reasons.