Atiq Ahmad & son booked for murder bid, extortion

The accused were booked under various sections of IPC, including 147 (rioting), 307 (attempt to murder), 386 (extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt), 286 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 506 (criminal intimidation), at Dhoomanganj police station.

The case was registered against Atiq Ahmed, his son Ali, Asad Kalia, Shakeel, Shakir, Sabi Abbas, Faizan, Saif, Naami, Affan, Mahmood, Maood and Aslam Mantri (Atiq’s cousin) based on a complaint filed by Sabir Hussain, said DCP (city) Deepak Bhuker

According to police, Sabir alleged that on April 14, 2019, Ali and his aides visited him at his residence in Jafari Colony.

“Atiq’s cousin Aslam Manti dialled a call to Atiq and asked me to speak with him over the phone. When I refused, Ali and one Asaad pulled out their pistols and threatened me with dire consequences. They asked me to pay Rs 1 crore to them. When I denied, Ali and his aides opened fire at me but I managed to flee the spot,” alleged Sabir, while claiming that he has CCTV footage to buttress the charges.

“Since the incident, the accused have been threatening me regularly,” he claimed. Sabir further alleged, “On February 15 this year, Aslam Mantri and Asaad came to my house and forced me to come with them to meet Atiq at the Gujarat jail. When I refused, they beat me up and asked me to pay Rs 1 crore.” Police said the complainant did not lodge a case earlier as he was fearing for his life.

A senior police officer said, “A case into the matter was registered only after the victim approached the police.” Ali is currently lodged at the Naini Central Jail in Prayagraj.

Meanwhile, a UP Police team Tuesday left with Atiq from the Sabarmati Central Jail in Gujarat for Prayagraj by road in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case, an official said. “Upon reaching Prayagraj, Atiq would be produced before the court concerned,” said the officer.

The convoy stopped in Rajasthan’s Dungarpur for nearly an hour in the evening after one of the vehicles developed a mechanical issue. Atiq was kept in the lock-up at Bichhiwara police station during the time the vehicle was repaired. The convoy later left for Prayagraj, said Bichhiwara police station ASI Nara Singh.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Atiq’s sister Ayesha Noori moved an application before a local court, stating that she came to know through media reports that police had made her an accused in the Umesh Pal murder case. Ayesha prayed to the court to seek a report from the police on the matter. “She stated that if police had made her an accused in the case, then she would surrender before the court and seek bail,” said a government counsel.

The court will take up the matter on April 13.