After court’s decision, family members demanded death penalty for Atiq Ahmed

The family of Umesh Pal welcomed Tuesday’s verdict of a Uttar Pradesh court, which handed life terms to the mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed in the advocate’s kidnapping, and has sought life terms for the accused in the ongoing murder case of the lawyer who was killed last month.

A Prayagraj MP-MLA court, which today held the five-time MLA and two others guilty in the abduction case, however, acquitted seven others, including the mafia turned politician’s brother Ashraf. Umesh Pal’s mother said that she has faith in Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the court and said that Atiq Ahmed should be given a death sentence in her son’s murder case.

“He (Atiq Ahmed) was sentenced to life imprisonment for kidnapping my son, but he should be given a death sentence for the murder of my son. I have faith in UP CM Yogi Adityanath,” Shanti Devi said after the court delivered its verdict.

“My son fought like a tiger. His case was almost over. He was hopeful that the verdict would be in his favour and that Atiq would be punished. Atiq got my son killed. It has been 18 years since my son was kidnapped. He was a fighter. I have faith in the court,” she told reporters here.

“Atiq is an old criminal. He can do anything with the power of money,” she added. Jaya Devi, Umesh Pal’s widow, stated that her family will face difficulties as long as Atiq and his brother are alive.

“It was a case of kidnapping. We won’t protest against the judgement. We are satisfied with the judgement as of now. Atiq Ahmed should be given a death sentence for killing my husband. We want justice, and I request that UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath help us. If he( Atiq Ahmed) and his brother survive, it will be a problem for us and the society,” Jaya Devi said.

She expressed her apprehension that Atiq Ahmed could trouble her family from inside the jail and urged the Chief Minister to intervene. “I will carry forward the fight that my husband was fighting because I want justice and not terror. I want his terror to end. I am scared (of attacks on the family)… They can do anything from inside the jail. Atiq and Ashraf should not remain. I seek the death penalty for them,” Umesh Pal’s widow said.

Umesh Pal was killed in broad daylight on 24 February this year. He was a prime witness in the BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case. The Prayagraj MP-MLA Court today pronounced life sentences to Atiq Ahmed, Dinesh Pasi, and Khan Saulat Hanif in the case and also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on each of the three. All the other seven accused in the case, including Ashraf, the brother of Atiq Ahmed, have been acquitted.