Atiq Ahmed, the don-turned-politician whose empire came crashing down in 50 days

Atiq Ahmed who once lorded over the underworld in U.P. was shot dead in Prayagraj, ending his 44-year run-in with law

It took roughly 50 days after the murder of lawyer Umesh Pal for the empire of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed to be reduced to dust as he was shot dead while being taken for a routine medical check-up to Calvin Hospital in Prayagraj on Saturday, April 15, 2023.

Days earlier, Ahmed, 62, an accused in the Umesh Pal murder case and 100 other cases in Uttar Pradesh, had described his plight in similar words. “I have been totally reduced to dust, but please don’t trouble the women and children of my family now,” he said from inside a police van.

Facing Opposition heat over the killing of Umesh Pal, a key witness in the murder case of Bahujan Samaj Party MLA Raju Pal, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath vowed in the Assembly on February 25 that his government would make the mafia bite the dust

On April 13, Asad — Ahmed’s 19-year-old son — and his accomplice, Ghulam, both wanted in the murder case and carrying a bounty of ₹5 lakh each, were shot dead in an alleged encounter by Uttar Pradesh Police’s Special Task Force near Jhansi.

Though the first criminal case against Ahmed was lodged nearly 44 years ago, it was Umesh Pal’s murder on February 24 that prompted the State administration to renew its efforts to crack down on his criminal network.

Taking advantage of the volatile political environment in the State in the 1990s and early 2000s, with no Chief Minister completing their terms and President’s rule being imposed thrice, Ahmed formed a syndicate that allegedly indulged in extortion and land grabbing.

In 1989, he entered politics and won from the Allahabad West constituency as an Independent candidate. He went on to retain the seat in 1991 and 1993. Three years later, he contested the seat on Samajwadi Party (SP) ticket and succeeded again. He later joined the Apna Dal and was made its State president. He wrested the seat in 2002.