Former Indian MP and notorious gangster Atiq Ahmed was shot dead on live television in the Indian city of Prayagraj, along with his brother Ashraf Ahmed, by assailants who stormed the premises where they were being held in police custody (BBC). Atiq Ahmed was a one-time Member of Parliament but had become known as a mafia don in northern India. His power had begun to wane, and this brazen murder could signal a shift in the local power dynamics. Ahmed’s journey to power was marked by violence, as he faced his first murder case at age 18 and continued to be involved in more than 100 criminal cases (NDTV). He had overt political ambitions, having been elected to Parliament on a Samajwadi Party ticket.
The heinous murder was perhaps Uttar Pradesh’s most shocking incident in years, given the clout that Atiq Ahmed enjoyed in the region (NDTV). His fall from grace was swift and marked by a string of criminal charges, including rioting, extortion, and murder. He was accused of having connections with Pakistan’s ISI and Lashkar, as well as of having access to weapons through this network (NDTV). His son Asad was killed by police in an encounter, wanted in a murder case (NDTV).
Ahmed’s life may have been cut short, but his reputation as a ruthless gangster-cum-politician has left a lasting impact on the people in the region (Hindustan Times). His penchant for violence and questionable tactics had edged him out of the political landscape, and his death has left a vacuum in local power circles. It remains to be seen who will fill his shoes and what direction the region will take in the wake of his death.
