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Gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed handed life-sentence in Umesh Pal kidnapping case; brother Khalid Azim acquitted

Gangster-turned politician Atiq Ahmed was pronounced guilty in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case by an MP-MLA court in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj on Tuesday and handed a life-sentence along with two others, while his brother, Khalid Azim alias Ashraf and six other accused in the case were acquitted.

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Atiq Ahmed

Gangster-turned politician Atiq Ahmed was pronounced guilty in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case by an MP-MLA court in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj on Tuesday and handed a life-sentence along with two others, while his brother, Khalid Azim alias Ashraf and six other accused in the case were acquitted.

Special MP-MLA court judge Dinesh Chandra Shukla pronounced the guilty verdict against Atiq Ahmed, Lawyer Saulat Hanif and Dinesh Pasi under section 364-A (kidnapping or abduction in order to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) which carries the death penalty as the maximum sentence.

Justice Shukla sentenced the guilty trio to 14 years life imprisonment in the case.

Earlier, Ahmed, who was brought by a 45-member team of the Uttar Pradesh Police to the special MP-MLA court in Prayagraj today from Gujarat’s Sabarmati Jail, was convicted, along with the other two accused in the kidnapping of BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case prime witness, Umesh Pal in 2006.

Umesh Pal, then a zila panchayat member, had come forward as the prime witness in Raju Pal’s murder, who was killed on January 25, 2005.

Umesh Pal had claimed that Atiq Ahmed and aides kidnapped him at gunpoint on February 28, 2006 after he refused retract his statement given to the police in the BSP leader’s killing. Based on his complaint, the police on July 5, 2007, had lodged an FIR against Ahmed, his brother, and others.

The UP Police had submitted a chargesheet in the matter against 11 accused. One of them later died.

Read Also: Prayagraj court convicts gangster Atiq Ahmed in Umesh Pal kidnapping case

On February 24 last month, Umesh Pal was shot dead along with his two security men in Prayagraj. Atiq and his brother—who were both in jail at the time—are also the accused in the conspiracy to assassinate Umesh Pal.

On Sunday, a 45-member team of the Uttar Pradesh Police arrived at the Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad to escort Atiq Ahmed to UP to produce him before the special court in Prayagraj in the Umesh Pal abduction case.

Earlier today, reports said that ahead of the hearing, security was heightened outside the Prayagraj court and security personnel were also deployed outside the residence of Ahmed as well as that of his advocate as well.

Umesh Pal’s wife Jaya Pal earlier said she won’t attend the hearing but had prayed for Ahmed to be sentenced to death for her husband’s murder.

On Jaya Pal’s complaint, a case a case was lodged at the Dhoomanganj police station in Prayagraj against Ahmed, his brother, his wife Shaista Parveen, two sons, aides Guddu Muslim and Ghulam, and nine others.

A mafia kingpin feared across Uttar Pradesh and former Samajwadi Party MP from Phulpur, Atiq Ahmed was shifted to the Sabarmati Central Jail in Gujarat in June 2019 following a Supreme Court order after he was accused of allegedly orchestrating the kidnapping and assault of real estate businessman Mohit Jaiswal while in prison in the state.

According to the police, Ahmed is named in the Umesh Pal murder case and in over 100 others of criminal nature.

Imam thrashed, beard cut off for refusing to chant Jai Shri Ram by masked men who barged into Maharashtra mosque

Gangster-turned politician Atiq Ahmed to be produced in Prayagraj court today amid high security

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CEC Gyanesh Kumar calls for discussion with Home Secretary, CEO UIDAI on linking of EPIC and Aadhaar

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi recently echoed similar sentiments in the Lok Sabha, highlighting the issue as a significant concern for the integrity of the electoral process.

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Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar has called a high-level meeting with the Union Home Secretary and the Legislative Secretary to address the ongoing debate surrounding the linking of voter identity cards with Aadhaar. The move comes amid allegations of electoral roll data manipulation, with opposition parties accusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) of irregularities in the voters’ list.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has raised concerns over duplicate voter card numbers being allocated to electors across different states, alleging that the poll authority is tampering with the voters’ list to benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi recently echoed similar sentiments in the Lok Sabha, highlighting the issue as a significant concern for the integrity of the electoral process.

In response, the Election Commission has described the duplicate card numbers as a “legacy issue” and assured that the matter will be resolved within the next three months. The ECI has clarified that duplicate numbers do not necessarily indicate the presence of fake voters and emphasized its commitment to ensuring the accuracy and transparency of the electoral rolls.

The meeting, scheduled for March 18, will include discussions with the Home Secretary, Legislative Secretary, and the CEO of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). The focus will be on addressing the technical and administrative challenges associated with the Aadhaar-voter ID linking process.

Under the current legal framework, the seeding of voter rolls with the Aadhaar database is voluntary. The government has informed Parliament that the linking exercise is “process-driven” and that no specific targets or deadlines have been set for its completion. It has also assured that the names of individuals who choose not to link their Aadhaar details with their voter IDs will not be removed from the electoral rolls.

The legal basis for the Aadhaar-voter ID linking is provided under Section 23 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, as amended by the Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021. The provision allows electoral registration officers to request Aadhaar numbers from existing or prospective voters on a voluntary basis for identity verification.

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Amit Shah inaugurates Lachit Barphukan Police Academy in Assam, lays foundation for next phase

Amit Shah inaugurated the revamped Lachit Barphukan Police Academy in Assam, featuring cutting-edge police training facilities, smart classrooms, and weapon training simulators.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the first phase of the Lachit Barphukan Police Academy at Dergaon in Golaghat district on Saturday. The academy, spread over 340 acres, is undergoing a major revamp at an estimated cost of ₹1,024 crore in two phases.

Accompanied by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Shah also laid the foundation stone for the second phase of the project.

State-of-the-art police training facilities

Officials stated that the ₹167.4-crore first phase includes a five-story building with modern police training infrastructure. Key highlights include:

  • Smart classrooms with interactive digital boards and personal computers.
  • Weapon training stimulator to enhance combat preparedness without real-world risks.
  • Research labs, administrative offices, and a library.
  • A modern parade ground and a museum showcasing law enforcement history.

The academy aims to provide a seamless blend of theoretical and practical training to recruits. The weapon training stimulator is particularly designed to train officers in real-world combat scenarios, enabling cost-effective and risk-free firearm practice.

Second phase to boost housing infrastructure

The second phase, estimated at ₹425.48 crore, will focus on housing infrastructure for personnel. It will include:

  • Residential quarters for 240 families.
  • Hostels for 312 officers and 2,640 trainees.

The revamped academy is expected to significantly strengthen Assam’s police training capabilities and provide cutting-edge resources for law enforcement personnel.

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Pawan Kalyan questions Tamil Nadu’s stance on Hindi, DMK hits back

Pawan Kalyan accused Tamil Nadu of hypocrisy over Hindi imposition while allowing Tamil films to be dubbed in Hindi. DMK refuted his claims, calling it an oversimplification.

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Pawan Kalyan and DMK leaders clash over Hindi language debate

The ongoing debate over language policies in India has escalated after Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan accused Tamil Nadu politicians of hypocrisy. Kalyan questioned why Tamil Nadu opposes Hindi imposition while allowing Tamil films to be dubbed into Hindi for commercial benefits.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has strongly refuted his claims, emphasizing that Tamil Nadu has always opposed the forced imposition of Hindi but not voluntary learning. DMK spokesperson Dr Syed Hafeezullah dismissed Kalyan’s remarks, calling them a “hollow understanding” of the state’s linguistic stance.

DMK’s Rebuttal to Pawan Kalyan

Addressing Kalyan’s statement, Hafeezullah said, “Tamil Nadu has never opposed individuals learning Hindi or any other language. What we oppose is the imposition of Hindi or any language on the people of our state.” He argued that equating Tamil Nadu’s opposition to Hindi imposition with the commercial practice of dubbing films is an oversimplification.

Senior DMK leader TKS Elangovan also weighed in, stating that Tamil Nadu’s resistance to Hindi dates back to 1938. “We had passed legislation in the state assembly that Tamil Nadu will always follow the two-language formula based on expert recommendations. The bill was passed in 1968 when Pawan Kalyan was not even born. He does not understand Tamil Nadu’s politics,” Elangovan remarked.

Pawan Kalyan’s Argument

Kalyan, the founder of the Janasena Party and an ally of the ruling NDA government, criticized Tamil Nadu leaders for their stance on Hindi. “Why do Tamil Nadu politicians oppose Hindi while allowing their movies to be dubbed in Hindi for financial gain? They want money from Bollywood but refuse to accept Hindi—what kind of logic is that?” he questioned.

BJP Backs Kalyan’s Stand

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has supported Kalyan’s remarks, stating that Hindi should be promoted more strongly in southern states. BJP leader Vikram Randhawa argued that Hindi, as the national language, should reach the masses. “Unfortunately, previous governments have tried to suppress nationalism. The use of Hindi should be implemented strongly in the South as well,” he said.

Language Politics Amid National Education Policy

The language debate is gaining renewed attention amid discussions over the National Education Policy (NEP) and the Centre’s push for Hindi. Tamil Nadu has historically resisted such policies, emphasizing the importance of education in the mother tongue. The state has repeatedly opposed initiatives like the PM SHRI scheme, which includes provisions for Hindi education.

DMK leaders reiterated that Hindi is already being voluntarily taught in Tamil Nadu through Hindi Prachar Sabhas. “If people want to learn Hindi, they are welcome to do so. The problem arises when the Centre mandates it through policies like the NEP,” Hafeezullah added.

As the language debate continues, it remains to be seen how the Centre and state governments navigate the linguistic sensitivities that have long shaped India’s federal dynamics.

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