Atiq Ahmed murder: UP Police forms 3-member SIT, shooters shifted from Prayagraj to Pratapgarh jail; top updates

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Monday formed a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the murder of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf in Prayagraj. Meanwhile, the three assailants of Atiq and Ashraf were shifted from Prayagraj prison to Pratapgarh district jail, officials were quoted to have said.

The SIT was formed on the instructions of Prayagraj Commissioner of Police Ramit Sharma, Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said.

"...In order to ensure (recording) statements/evidence of witnesses, compiling of records/electronic evidence, scientific/forensic evidence, examination carried out in the forensic science laboratory and to ensure impartial and qualitative investigation, this investigation will be carried out by a Special Investigation Team (SIT)," a statement said.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime, Satish Chandra will be the SIT's chief investigator. Other two SIT members are Assistant Commissioner of Police (Kotwali police station) Satyendra Prasad Tiwari and Inspector, Investigation Cell of Crime Branch, Om Prakash, the statement added.

A three-member team of supervisors has also been formed, Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police R K Vishwakarma said in another statement. The team of supervisors will ensure qualitative investigation and time-bound action. The additional director general of police of Prayagraj will head this team which also comprises the police commissioner of Prayagraj and the director of the Forensic Science Laboratory, Lucknow. 

Atiq and Ashraf were shot dead in full view of media cameras at point-blank range by three men. The shooting happened in the middle of a media interaction. The killers were posing as journalists. The duo were being escorted by police personnel to a medical college in Prayagraj for a check-up at the time. The killers surrendered on the spot and were arrested later. They have been identified as Lavlesh Tiwari, Mohit alias Sunny and Arun Maurya. The Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led government had constituted a three-member judicial commission to probe the shooting on Sunday. 

(Inputs from PTI)