Atiq Ahmad brought to Naini jail: ‘Hum bilkul mitti mein mil gaye hain’

Following the murder of a murder case witness in which Atiq is prime accused, UP CM Yogi Adityanath had said in Assembly: “Mafiaaon ko mitti me mila denge (Will reduce mafia to dust)”.

The UP Police convoy escorting Atiq from Ahmedabad reached Naini jail in Prayagraj Wednesday evening after travelling over 1,200 km by road.

Former MP Atiq Ahmed arrives at the Naini Jail in Prayagraj on Wednesday. (Express photo by Ritesh Shukla)

Atiq told mediapersons that he was “being harassed” at the Sabarmati Central Jail. “Sabarmati jail mai mujko bahut pareshan kiya ja raha hai. Koi phone humne wahan se nahi kiya, wahan jammer lage huey hain. Koi sazish humney jail se nahi ki. 6 saal se jail mai hoon, mera pura parivar barbaad ho chukka hai (I am being harassed at Sabarmati jail. I did not make any phone calls from jail as jammers have been fitted there. I have done no conspiracy from jail. I have been in jail for the past six years and my entire family has been ruined),” said Atiq.

The 60-year-old gangster-politician, who has over 100 cases against him, will be produced in a Prayagraj court on Thursday for a hearing in the Umesh Pal murder case, along with his younger brother Khalid Azim, alias, Ashraf, who was also brought to the Naini Central Jail from the Bareilly Central Jail, said a jail official. Police may seek their police custody remand (PCR) for questioning.

Umesh Pal, a key witness in BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case in 2005, in which Ahmed is an accused, was shot in Prayagraj on February 24. Meanwhile, as part of an ongoing money laundering probe, ED conducted searches at 15 locations associated with Atiq and his aides in Prayagraj and its adjoining areas. —With PTI.