Former MP Atique Ahmed, Two Others Get Life Term In Umesh Pal Kidnapping Case
Prayagraj, March 28 (TNA) Ten accused, including former MP Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf, were produced in the MPMLA court on Tuesday in the 17-year-old Umesh Pal kidnapping case where Atiq Ahmed, Khan Shoulat Haneef advocate, and Dinesh Pasi were awarded life imprisonment under section 364 A of the IPC.
The remaining seven accused were acquitted by the court. All the accused including Atiq Ashraf from Naini Jail were produced in the court of Special Judge Dinesh Chandra Shukla of MPMLA Court amid tight security. Elaborate security arrangements were made on the entire route from Naini Jail to the court.
On July 5, 2007, Umesh Pal accused Atiq Ahmed, his brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf, Dinesh Pasi, Khan Shoulat Hanif, Ansar Baba, of kidnapping for testifying against them in the MLA Raju Pal murder case, at the Dhumanganj police station on July 5, 2007. The Dhumanganj police started investigation by registering an FIR under Umesh Pal's Tahrir under sections 147, 148, 149, 364, 323, 341, 342, 504, 506, 34, 120B and Seven CL Amendment Act of IPC.
During investigation the names of Javed alias Bajju, Farhan, Abid, Israr, Asif alias Malli, Ejaz Akhtar came to the fore. The court framed charges in 2009 after the police report was filed. Thereafter, a total of eight witnesses were produced by the prosecution. In which apart from Umesh Pal himself and one of his relatives, six police personnel along with two investigating officers were involved.
A total of 54 witnesses were produced on behalf of the parties (Atiq Ahmed, Ashraf and other accused) for their defence. Due to the delay in the hearing of the case, the plaintiff Umesh Pal filed a petition in the High Court and demanded to complete the hearing of the case soon. In view of the facts and circumstances, the court had ordered the trial court to complete the trial in two months. Since then, daily hearings started in the Umesh Pal kidnapping case.
On February 24, the day Umesh Pal was murdered, he had returned from the court in connection with this case. On that day arguments were going on from the side of the defence.
As soon as Umesh reached home after the hearing at around 4.30 pm, shooters killed him. In this case also Atiq, Ashraf, Atiq's son and his wife were made accused. In this case, the court had completed the hearing on February 17 and the date of pronouncement of the verdict was fixed on March 28.
Umesh Pal's lawyer Rajesh says that he is not satisfied with the verdict. Further decision will be taken after studying the order. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has welcomed the life sentence awarded to Atiq and others.
Umesh pal's mother and her widow while welcoming the decision however rued that it would have been better had the court sent the killers of his son to the gallows.