Muslim Indian ex-lawmaker and brother killed in front of live television audiences
After killing victims who were being escorted by police for medical checkups, the assailants, who pretended to be journalists, sang “Jai Shri Ram.”
An Indian former congressman who was convicted of kidnapping and was facing charges of murder and assault was shot dead together with his brother in a dramatic incident that was seen live on TV in northern India, officials said on Sunday. The attack took place in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
When Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf Ahmad were targeted from close range by three guys posing as journalists on Saturday night in Prayagraj city in Uttar Pradesh state, they were being escorted by the police on their way to a medical checkup at a hospital. The brothers were on their way to the hospital in Prayagraj city in Uttar Pradesh state.
After the shooting, the guys swiftly turned themselves in to the authorities, and at least one of them could be heard yelling “Jai Shri Ram,” which translates to “Hail Lord Ram.” This is a slogan that has become a rallying cry for Hindu nationalists in their crusade against Muslims.
The Hindu nationalist Bhartiya Janata Party is now in power in India and governs the state of Uttar Pradesh.
According to a statement made by a police officer named Ramit Sharma, the three suspects arrived on motorcycles while pretending to be journalists.
They were able to get within close proximity to Atiq and his brother on the guise of recording a byte, and they opened fire on them from very close range. “Bullet wounds to the head were inflicted on both of them,” he stated.
Sharma stated that everything took place in a matter of seconds.
Atiq Ahmad’s teenage son and another man, who had both been blamed for a recent murder, were slain by police in what has been described as a gunfight on Thursday. Both men had been accused of being involved in the murder.
After being found guilty of kidnapping in 2019, Atiq Ahmad, age 60, was sentenced to time served in prison. He was elected to the local legislature four times, and in 2004, he won a seat in the national legislature of India.
Vijay Mishra, his attorney, described the event as disturbing because “it is a clear failure of the police in ensuring the safety” of his clients. Mishra stated this was shocking news.
Opposition parties condemned the killings as a breach of security and questioned the government’s response.
