Cops to tighten noose around Atiq’s aides

ALLAHABAD: Police will now tighten the noose on the other members of former MP Atiq Ahmad’s gang after the escape of his close aide Mohammad Farhan on Friday evening.

Cops have till now failed to trace the location of Farhan, an accused in BSP MLA Raju Pal’s murder besides other heinous crimes, including double murders at Mariadih and abduction of a minor girl in Dhumanganj area.

Many of Atiq’s close aides, including Abid Pradhan, his cousin Farhan, Faisal, Sheru, Pappu Beli, Aijaz Akhtar and others, were recently arrested after they were found involved in double murders of Abid’s cousin sister Alkama and driver Surjeet in 2014. Atiq and his brother Ashraf are also an accused in the double murders. While Atiq was arrested earlier in connection with the assault on SHUATS officials, Ashraf is still at large.

With Ashraf still on the run and recent escape of Farhan, the witnesses in the cases against them and their rivals now fear for their security.

On the condition of anonymity, a witness in one of the cases against Farhan said the accused were powerful and hardcore criminals and might go to any extent to influence the cases in their favour. “We may have to ask for police protection if the accused are not arrested soon,” he added.

SP City Siddarth Shankar Meena meanwhile claimed that police teams under circle officer Civil Lines Shreesh Chandra were raiding the possible hideouts of Farhan. Many of his relatives and people close to him had been questioned. While police were now focusing on nabbing Farhan, fresh efforts will also be made to arrest Ashraf and his other aides who were still at large, police said.

Farhan had made good his escape from police custody in Dhumanganj area on Friday evening. A named FIR was lodged against four constables who were escorting him at Dhumanganj police station and they were suspended. While they claimed that Farhan escaped from court premises, investigations revealed that they had stopped at Farhan’s residence at Lalbihara locality and escaped from the back door.

COPS HAVE TILL NOW FAILED TO TRACE THE LOCATION OF FARHAN, AN ACCUSED IN BSP MLA RAJU PAL’S MURDER