Latest news with #Atiq
Time of India
14-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
SP expels rebel MLA Pooja Pal after she praises CM in House
Lucknow: Hours after rebel Samajwadi Party MLA Pooja Pal showered praise on CM Yogi Adityanath during her address to the state Assembly in the 24-hour-long marathon discussion on Vision 2047 on Thursday, she was expelled from the party. In her address, Pal, the sitting MLA from Chail who had earlier voted against the party line in the 2024 Rajya Sabha poll, was all praise for Yogi over zero-tolerance against crime. She credited the CM with getting justice for her in the case involving gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed . SP chief Akhilesh Yadav immediately expelled her on charges of anti-party activities and indiscipline. From among the rebel SP MLAs who cross-voted for the BJP in Rajya Sabha polls, Puja Pal is the fourth SP MLA to have been expelled from the party so far. The remaining three including Abhay Singh (Gosainganj) , Rakesh Pratap Singh (Gauriganj) and Manoj Kumar Pandey (Unchahar) were expelled from SP on June 24. Pooja Pal, whose husband Raju Pal was gunned down in January 2005 in Prayagraj allegedly at the behest of Atiq Ahmed, said everyone knew who was behind her husband's murder. She said CM Yogi heard her cries to justice when no one else did and eventually Atiq became history. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Raju Pal was shot dead just days after their wedding. Umesh Pal, a key witness in the case was gunned down in broad daylight and full public view in Prayagraj by Atiq's son and listed associates in Feb 2023. Atiq and his brother Ashraf, who were named accused of Raju Pal murder, were shot dead in 2023 in police custody by three petty criminals who later claimed that they committed the crime as they wanted to make a mark in the world of crime. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Independence Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
NDTV
14-08-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"Yogi Adityanath Buried Gangster Who Killed My Husband": Samajwadi Party MLA
Samajwadi Party MLA Pooja Pal, whose husband Raju Pal was shot dead by gangster Atiq Ahmed in 2005, on Thursday thanked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for delivering justice and "listening to her when no one else did", and praised him for bringing in policies with zero tolerance against criminals. 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.
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
HC grants parole to Atiq's lawyer Vijay Mishra
The Allahabad High Court has granted parole to Atiq's lawyer Vijay Mishra till May 26 to attend terahi of his mother. However, during the parole period, he shall remain in police custody on his expense, which shall be paid by him on or before his surrender, the court added. Vijay Mishra is in jail on the charges of conspiracy in Umesh Pal murder case, where ex-MP and dreaded mafia turned politician Atiq is the main accused. He has also been booked under the Gangsters Act. While passing this order, Justice Saurabh Srivastava observed, 'After hearing the rival submissions advanced by counsels for both the parties, on humanitarian ground, this court is of the opinion that applicant namely Vijay Mishra, may be permitted to attend the terahi of his mother in police custody, costs of which shall be borne by him', the court added in its order passed on May 21. In the present petition filed by Vijay Mishra, his counsel submitted that the mother of applicant expired on May 10. The applicant has been languishing in Etawah jail since July 30, 2023. The applicant filed an application before the court of special judge (Gangster Act), Prayagraj with prayer to allow him to appear in last ceremony of his mother, but the court below rejected the same prayer vide order dated May 14, 2025, which has been challenged through instant petition. The counsel for applicant submitted that terahi of his mother is scheduled on May 23, 2025 and as such prays that applicant be released on short term parole to participate in the said ceremony. However, during the court proceedings, the state counsel vehemently opposed the prayer sought through the instant petition.
CBC
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Driving in a Snowstorm by Izza Farhan
Social Sharing Izza Farhan has made the 2025 CBC Short Story Prize longlist for Driving in a Snowstorm. The winner of the 2025 CBC Short Story Prize will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, a two-week writing residency at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and their work will be published on CBC Books. The four remaining finalists will each receive $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and have their work published on CBC Books. The shortlist will be announced on April 10 and the winner will be announced on April 17. If you're interested in other CBC Literary Prizes, the 2025 CBC Poetry Prize is currently accepting submissions. You can submit an original, unpublished poem or collection of poems from April 1-June 1. The 2026 CBC Short Story Prize will open in September and the 2026 CBC Nonfiction Prize will open in January. About Izza Farhan Izza Farhan lives in Toronto and is a soon-to-be civil engineering graduate from the University of Toronto. With a long love for reading and storytelling, she started her writing journey after taking a creative writing course in the summer of her final year. This is her first literary milestone. She has many more stories she wants to tell and is currently working on outlining her first two novels. In her free time, when she's not writing, she loves to take pictures with her film camera. Entry in five-ish words "The snow will eventually melt." The short story's source of inspiration "I wanted to capture the struggling relationship between generations in an immigrant family, specifically through the lens of grief. As a daughter of immigrant parents, I think sometimes we fail to empathize with our parents and understand the loneliness they suffer adjusting to a new country, one that doesn't always welcome them with open arms." First lines Heartless child. Takes every opportunity to drive the car. But because it is his own father who needs a ride, and because he is so repulsed by his own flesh and blood, it takes him an hour to wear a sweatshirt and then another hour to use the bathroom. And by the time he is in the car, Atiq in the passenger seat, Hamza is on the phone talking to Darren or Derek or who knows what that boy's name is, maybe it is James, one of those old high school friends that, unlike him, went to university and had discipline. The way he exaggerates his vowels, his arrogant way of laughing, is screwing a hole into Atiq's mind. The key is in Hamza's hand, the car is getting cold, Atiq is shivering, and the key is still in Hamza's hand, and he isn't starting the car because he is talking to James? Darren? Derek? Check out the rest of the longlist The longlist was selected from more than 2,300 entries. A team of 12 writers and editors from across Canada compiled the list. The jury selects the shortlist and the eventual winner from the readers' longlisted selections. This year's jury is composed of Conor Kerr, Kudakwashe Rutendo and Michael Christie. The complete list is:
