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.

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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.

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

A video has been making rounds on the internet where a busker can be seen singing and catering to the Indian audience in UK’s Hounslow. The man sang Muhammed Rafi’s classic Kya Hua Tera Wada as many stood by witnessing and getting the taste of Indian music.

In the video, the busker can be seen surrounded by people from all walks of life, as well as ethnic backgrounds. The people can be seen enjoying the soulful voice of the man as many record him.

A little girl can also be seen approaching the singer as she hands him some loose change as a reward for his singing. The busker can be seen gladly taking the money and putting it in his bag. The mother of the girl can also be seen patting her to tell her that she did great.

Watch video here:

User’s reaction

After the video of the singer went viral, many users came forward to add their take on social media. One user wrote and praised the singer for singing a Rafi song, implying that Muhammed Rafi’s songs should be introduced to everyone.

One user wrote and praised the little girl for rewarding art as the user wrote that praised the artist as well as the little girl can be seen being inspired by the song so much that she rewards it. One user also wrote and praised the singer for his soulful voice and great performance.

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Another incident

Another incident of a similar nature came to light from Haryana’s Gurugram where a policeman can be seen fervently grooving to the singers on the stage as he guides and sings along with them. In the video, a policeman can be seen standing meters away from the singers performing on the stage.

The policeman can be seen passionately guiding the singers with his hands as he also uses his vocals to support them.

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A special court in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj on Tuesday convicted gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and others in the Umesh Pal abduction case.

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 his brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf and other 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 take back 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 four other accused.

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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.

Prayagraj District Bar Association said the MP-MLA court of Prayagraj has cleared its schedule for today and will only hear Umesh Pal case.

The Bar Association in a statement said that Presiding Officer of MP MLA Court has written to Minister of District Advocates Association wherein it was requested to pronounce a verdict in the case today itself.

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