In 2008, six criminal-politicians, including Atiq Ahmad who was shot dead Saturday, were granted furlough from different jails within just 48 hours to save the then-embattled United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and India's civil nuclear deal with the US.
The book "Baahubalis of Indian Politics: From Bullet to Ballot" by Rajesh Singh mentions how these six legislators, with over 100 criminal cases against their names collectively, had the distinction of being musclemen who saved the UPA government from a collapse, according to a PTI report.
The Manmohan Singh-led UPA government was facing a no-confidence motion brought by the Opposition, and its very existence hinged on the outcome of the vote. The government needed a simple majority of 272 votes to overcome the crisis of confidence. At that time, the UPA had 228 members in the Lok Sabha and was short of 44 seats. The Left parties had withdrawn their support to the regime in mid-2008 over the government's decision to proceed with a civil nuclear deal.
However, the Samajwadi Party extended its support to the UPA, as did Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and Deve Gowda's Janata Dal (Secular). There were also others, including the "Baahubali netas," who did their bit.
Also read | Atiq Ahmed assailants have criminal records, say police
Forty-eight hours before the vote and with little fanfare, the government furloughed the six criminal-politicians so that they could fulfill their constitutional duties as lawmakers. Ateeq Ahmed, a Samajwadi Party lawmaker from Uttar Pradesh, was one among them. He dutifully cast his precious vote in favour of the beleaguered UPA. The don had, by then, established himself in both politics and crime.
Ahmed, with a conspicuous handlebar moustache and a penchant for safari suits, identified himself as a politician, contractor, builder, property dealer, and agriculturist. However, he also had serious criminal charges to his name, including kidnapping, extortion, and murder. He was a five-time MLA from Uttar Pradesh, having successfully forayed into electoral politics in 1989. He became a member of the Lok Sabha in 2004, elected on a Samajwadi Party ticket. However, less than five years later, the party expelled him on grounds of his criminal record.
On April 16, 2023, Atiq Ahmad was shot dead in Prayagraj along with his brother Ashraf. Three assailants posing as journalists opened fire on them in the middle of a media interaction. The Ahmeds were handcuffed together as they were being escorted by the police for a mandatory health checkup. As they alighted from the police jeep, surrounded by police personnel, and were trying to answer questions by the media persons, they were shot dead in full view of the camera.
Earlier on April 15, 2023, Atiq's son Asad was killed in an exchange of fire with the UP police's Special Task Force in Jhansi. No close family member, including the beleaguered gangster himself, could attend the burial.
Also read | Atiq Ahmed, brother gunned down in front of police, media
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has formed a three-member judicial commission to probe the killing of Atiq and his brother. Prayagraj Police Commissioner Ramit Sharma said that the three assailants, who were arrested immediately after the incident, had joined the group of reporters who were trying to get sound bites from Ahmad and Ashraf.
