The three assailants used Turkey made pistols to kill gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf amid hordes of policemen and media glare in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj.
According to the police, the assailants used 9mm Girsan pistol made in Turkey, a 9 mm Zigana pistol also made in Turkey and a 7.62 country-made pistol to kill Ahmed and his brother Ashraf on Saturday night.
The audacious attack was carried out by three assailants—Lavlesh Tiwari (22) of Banda, Mohit alias Sunny (23) of Hamirpur and Arun Maurya (18) of Kasganj.
One shooter Tiwari was also injured in the cross-fire, which also hurt a policeman.
Police have charged the three men for murder and attempt to murder, as well as under the Arms Act. At least two firearms were recovered from the site of the shooting.
According to the FIR, the accused told police they wanted to make a name for themselves and establish their identity in the state by eliminating Atiq Ahmad’s gang.
They said they couldn’t make their escape because of the swift police action, according to the FIR.
"Since the time we got to know about the police custody of Atiq and Ashraf, we were planning to murder them. So we posed as journalists and when we got the right opportunity, we pulled the trigger and implemented the plan," one of the accused told police.
Police said the three assailants had joined the group of reporters who were trying to get sound bites from the two gangsters. The men suddenly dropped their camera and whipped out the arms, they said.
(With PTI inputs)
