"Yogi Adityanath Buried Gangster Who Killed My Husband": Samajwadi Party MLA
Atiq and his brother Ashraf were shot dead by three men posing as media persons in 2023. Mr Adityanath had ordered a high-level probe into the killings even as the opposition accused the state government of failing to ensure the rule of law.
Speaking in the Uttar Pradesh assembly during a 24-hour marathon discussion on 'Vision Document 2047', Ms Pooja said: "Everyone knows who murdered my husband (Raju). I want to thank the Chief Minister for bringing me justice and hearing me when nobody else did."
She added: "The Chief Minister gave justice to many other women like me in Prayagraj by bringing in policies like zero tolerance that led to the killing of criminals like Atiq Ahmed. Today, the entire state looks at him with trust."
Former Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal was shot dead on January 25, 2005, days after he married Ms Pooja. The murder, police said, was a result of political rivalry with gangster Atiq Ahmed's brother Ashraf, whom Raju had defeated in the 2004 bypoll to the Prayagraj West seat. In February 2023, Umesh Pal, a key witness in the murder case, was shot dead in Prayagraj's Sulem Saray area.
Days later, Atiq and Ashraf - both of whom were arrested - were shot dead by three men when they were being taken for a medical check-up in Prayagraj. Atiq was shot in the head from behind, nearly at point-blank range. Ashraf, too, was shot dead, as the murder was captured on camera. This came days after Atiq's son Asad was killed in an alleged encounter in Jhansi. All three men were later arrested.
"Mere pati ke hatyare Atiq Ahmed ko mukhya mantri ne mitti mein milaane ka kaam kiya (The Chief Minister buried my husband's murderer Atiq Ahmed)," Ms Pooja told the House.
"I raised my voice when I saw that no one wanted to fight against criminals like Atiq Ahmed. When I started feeling exhausted with this fight, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath gave me justice," she added.
Raju had lost the election from the Prayagraj West seat to Atiq in 2002 but when the latter vacated it after being elected to the Lok Sabha, Raju defeated Ashraf in the bypoll.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the probe into the murder case in 2016. In 2024, a CBI court convicted seven people - Ranjeet Pal, Abid, Farhan Ahmad, Israr Ahmad, Javed, Gulhasan, and Abdul Kavi - guilty in the case for criminal conspiracy and murder among other charges. Farhan was also held guilty under the Indian Arms Act.
Meanwhile, a judicial commission formed to probe the gangsters' murders ruled out the possibility of a "pre-planned conspiracy" or "police negligence". The state government also informed the Supreme Court that it is "leaving no stone unturned to ensure a fair and impartial investigation" into the killings.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
3 minutes ago
- Indian Express
SP expels MLA Pooja Pal hours after she praised CM Adityanath for action against Atiq Ahmad
The Samajwadi Party on Thursday expelled its MLA Pooja Pal, for alleged anti-party activities, hours after she praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the assembly for putting gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad to dust. In a letter issued to the MLA, the party accused Pal of indulging in activities against its interests despite repeated warnings. A copy of the letter, which was undersigned by SP president Akhilesh Yadav, was also marked to the speaker of the legislative assembly. The letter's copy leaked on social media, with SP sources confirming to PTI the expulsion of the woman lawmaker. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak termed the expulsion Samajwadi Party's 'anti-women approach'. The letter said that Pal's actions amounted to 'serious indiscipline' and that she was being removed from all party posts with immediate effect. It also stated that Pal, who represents Chail assembly constituency in Kaushambi district, would no longer be allowed to attend any party programme or meeting, nor be invited to any such event. The expulsion came within hours of Pal's remarks in the ongoing assembly's Monsoon session, where she thanked Adityanath for 'ensuring justice' in the murder of her husband, former Bahujan Samaj Party MLA Raju Pal, who was gunned down in 2005 in Prayagraj in an attack linked to Atiq Ahmad. Deputy CM Pathak said the expulsion of Pooja Pal for 'supporting the vision of developed India' in the House on the eve of Independence Day reflects the 'ghatia soch (cheap mindset)' of the Samajwadi Party. 'The entire House has unanimously accepted that the policy of the Samajwadi Party is anti-women.' Atiq Ahmad, a former MP and multiple-time MLA from Allahabad West, was serving a life sentence in a kidnapping case when he and his brother Ashraf were shot dead at point-blank range by three assailants while being escorted by police for a medical check-up in Prayagraj on April 15, 2023. The killing took place in full view of the media and was broadcast live. During a discussion on the 'Vision 2047' document in UP Assembly, Pal said, 'I want to thank Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for seeing my hidden tears that no one noticed for years. 'My grief and pain were acknowledged and justice was delivered,' she said. The MLA said there are many such bereaved families in Prayagraj who have 'received justice' under CM Adityanath. 'Countless women have lost their husbands, countless mothers have lost their sons, and I thank the CM who brought in a zero-tolerance policy to wipe out criminals and mafias like Atiq Ahmad,' Pal said. The opposition MLA then thanked the CM for 'reducing mafia like Atiq Ahmad to dust'.
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
SP expels MLA Pooja Pal hours after she praised CM Adityanath for action against Atiq Ahmad
The Samajwadi Party expelled MLA Pooja Pal for alleged anti-party activities after she praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the assembly for his actions against gangster Atiq Ahmad. The party accused Pal of "serious indiscipline" and acting against its interests despite warnings. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Samajwadi Party on Thursday expelled its MLA Pooja Pal, for alleged anti-party activities, hours after she praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the assembly for putting gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad to a letter issued to the MLA, the party accused Pal of indulging in activities against its interests despite repeated warnings.A copy of the letter, which was undersigned by SP president Akhilesh Yadav , was also marked to the speaker of the legislative assembly. The letter's copy leaked on social media, with SP sources confirming to PTI the expulsion of the woman Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak termed the expulsion Samajwadi Party's "anti-women approach".The letter said that Pal's actions amounted to"serious indiscipline" and that she was being removed from all party posts with immediate also stated that Pal, who represents Chail assembly constituency in Kaushambi district, would no longer be allowed to attend any party programme or meeting, nor be invited to any such expulsion came within hours of Pal's remarks in the ongoing assembly's Monsoon session, where she thanked Adityanath for "ensuring justice" in the murder of her husband, former Bahujan Samaj Party MLA Raju Pal, who was gunned down in 2005 in Prayagraj in an attack linked to Atiq CM Pathak said the expulsion of Pooja Pal for "supporting the vision of developed India" in the House on the eve of Independence Day reflects the "ghatia soch (cheap mindset)" of the Samajwadi Party. "The entire House has unanimously accepted that the policy of the Samajwadi Party is anti-women."Atiq Ahmad, a former MP and multiple-time MLA from Allahabad West, was serving a life sentence in a kidnapping case when he and his brother Ashraf were shot dead at point-blank range by three assailants while being escorted by police for a medical check-up in Prayagraj on April 15, killing took place in full view of the media and was broadcast a discussion on the 'Vision 2047' document in UP Assembly, Pal said, "I want to thank Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for seeing my hidden tears that no one noticed for years."My grief and pain were acknowledged and justice was delivered," she MLA said there are many such bereaved families in Prayagraj who have "received justice" under CM Adityanath."Countless women have lost their husbands, countless mothers have lost their sons, and I thank the CM who brought in a zero-tolerance policy to wipe out criminals and mafias like Atiq Ahmad," Pal opposition MLA then thanked the CM for "reducing mafia like Atiq Ahmad to dust".
India.com
32 minutes ago
- India.com
Hours after her appreciation speech for CM Adityanath, Samajwadi MLA Pooja expelled from party
Hours after her appreciation speech for CM Adityanath, Samajwadi MLA Pooja expelled from party Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday expelled MLA Pooja Pal from the party after she praised CM Yogi Adityanath in the Assembly. She had thanked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for 'delivering justice' in her husband's murder case and praised him for bringing in policies with zero tolerance against criminals. What did Pooja Pal say? Speaking in the Uttar Pradesh assembly during a 24-hour marathon discussion on 'Vision Document 2047' on Thursday morning, Pooja Pal, the wife of Former Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal, said, 'Everyone knows who murdered my husband (Raju). I want to thank the Chief Minister for bringing me justice and hearing me when nobody else did.' She added, 'The Chief Minister gave justice to many other women like me in Prayagraj by bringing in policies like zero tolerance that led to the killing of criminals like Atiq Ahmed. Today, the entire state looks at him with trust.' Hours after her appreciation speech, the MLA was expelled from the party. In his statement in Hindi, Akhilesh Yadav said: 'She (Pooja) is no longer permitted to participate in any party programs and will not be invited to them in the future.' How Pooja responded? '…Perhaps you could not hear the women in Prayagraj who were even more worried than me. But I am their voice, I have been elected as an MLA and sent to the Assembly. I am the voice of mothers and sisters who have lost their loved ones. They have sent me here. All people in Prayagraj who were disturbed due to Atiq Ahmed have been given justice by the CM, not just to Pooja Pal. I have been saying this from day 1, even when I was in the party. I have been expelled only today. I stand by my statement even today.' 'I became an MLA later but I am a victim woman first, a wife first…We could not stand the incident that occurred with us…They speak of PDA. I too belong to a backward community, I was troubled, I stepped out of my house because my husband was killed in broad day light, I was a newly-wed bride and there was nobody at my home…They have proven that they are completely against PDA.' How was Raju Pal killed? Former Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal death which was a result of political rivalry with gangster Atiq Ahmed's brother Ashraf, whom Raju had defeated in the 2004 bypoll to the Prayagraj West seat. In February 2023, Umesh Pal, a key witness in the murder case, was shot dead in Prayagraj's Sulem Saray area. Days later, Atiq and Ashraf – both of whom were arrested – were shot dead by three men when they were being taken for a medical check-up in Prayagraj.
