By Arvind Ojha: Gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed told police that he hatched the conspiracy to kill Umesh Pal from inside jail, according to the remand copy. He also said that his wife Shaista had informed him that two gunmen accompanied Umesh Pal, and their killing was also part of the plan.

Umesh Pal was the key witness in the 2005 murder case of BSP MLA Raju Pal.

Atiq Ahmed’s son Asad was one of the accused in the case of Umesh Pal’s murder in February. Asad, along with Atiq’s henchman Ghulam, was killed in a police encounter in Jhansi on Thursday.

Questions have been raised over the encounter in which Asad and Ghulam were killed.

Atiq Ahmed told the police in his statement on April 12, that he hatched the conspiracy of Umesh Pal’s murder from inside a jail.

According to the remand copy, Atiq had asked his wife Sahista Parveen for a cellphone and a SIM and mentioned the name of the government official who would help smuggle the gadget into the prison. A mobile handset and a SIM card were also made available to Atiq’s brother, Ashraf.

Atiq said that Shaista informed him that two gunmen accompanied Umesh Pal, and there was an order to kill both the policemen too, according to the remand copy.

This means that the attack on the two policemen accompanying Umesh Pal was pre-planned too. Both of them were killed in the attack.

Atiq’s wife, Shaista Parveen, is absconding and several teams have been formed to nab her.

According to sources, Prayagraj police had input that Shaista could attend the funeral of her son Asad. The teams are on alert about this.

Close aides of gangster Abu Salem in Maharashtra were believed to have arranged shelter for Asad and Ghulam while they were on the run after the murder of Umesh Pal. Atiq’s brother Ashraf, who is lodged in a jail in Bareilly, had helped Asad and Ghulam to escape to Maharashtra

Atiq had also on Thursday begged to attend Asad’s funeral.

Asad’s grave has been dug in the cemetery of Kasari Masari area of Prayagraj. Atiq Ahmed is only 20 minutes away from where his son is being buried, and won’t be able to see him for the last time.