After 5-hour drama at Naini jail, police leave for Gujarat with Atiq Ahmed

As Prayagraj police sought time for “making security arrangements” for Atiq Ahmed’s return journey, the former MP remained stationed inside the jail compound for around five hours, locked inside the Vajra Vahan in which he was brought from the court.

“Around 4 pm, a police convoy brought Atiq Ahmed to Naini Central Jail. But he was not allowed to enter the jail. As a result, the police van in which he was brought remained stationed in the jail compound. Around five hours later, when teams of additional forces arrived, police took Atiq away for Sabarmati,” said a senior official of the jail department.

It was only around 9 pm, Atiq Ahmed was taken away in a police convoy for Gujarat.

“There was a court direction. Therefore, Atiq Ahmed has been sent to Sabarmati Central Jail,” said Superintendent (Naini Central Jail) Shashikant Singh, adding that two others convicted in the abduction case — Khan Shaulat Haneef and Dinesh Pasi — would continue to remain in Naini jail.

Prayagraj police, however, could not be contacted for comment. Sources, however, said that the “delay” in taking Atiq back happened due to “logistical issues”.

Atiq’s younger brother, Khalid Azim alias Ashraf, and one Farhan, who were brought to Prayagraj for the court hearing, have been sent back to Bareilly and Chitrakoot jails, respectively. Both were acquitted in the kidnapping case.

On Monday, Atiq was brought from Gujarat following a 24-hour road journey, covering over 1,200 km and crisscrossing four states with few halts. The five-vehicle convoy of UP Police comprised 20 security personnel.

After he was brought to Prayagraj, he was kept in a high-security barrack of the Naini Central Jail.

Before coming to Prayagraj, he had expressed apprehension that he could be killed by UP Police in a fake encounter and had also moved the court. His family members, including his sister, followed the police convoy all the way from Rajasthan.

The former Samajwadi Party MP from Phulpur was shifted to Sabarmati jail in Gujarat in June 2019 following a Supreme Court order after he was accused of orchestrating the kidnapping and assault of real estate businessman Mohit Jaiswal from a prison in Uttar Pradesh. A native of Prayagraj, Atiq is a history-sheeter with around 100 cases against him.