Atiq, brother killings: SHO among 5 cops suspended for lapses

PRAYAGRAJ: Five UP cops, including an SHO, were suspended Wednesday for the alleged lapses that allowed three assassins masquerading as journalists to shoot dead handcuffed gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf in front of TV cameras outside a Prayagraj hospital late Saturday.

Besides SHO Ashwini Singh of Shahganj police station, whose jurisdiction extends to the crime scene outside Colvin Hospital, two sub-inspectors and as many constables were suspended on the basis of the findings of the probe so far, sources in the Lucknow police headquarters said. Until evening, the Prayagraj police commissionerate hadn't confirmed the crackdown. The special investigation team (SIT) probing Atiq and Ashraf's murder in custody questioned all five cops before the decision to suspend them was taken, the sources said.

DGP RK Vishwakarma has set up a three-member supervisory team to oversee and assist the SIT constituted by Prayagraj police commissioner Ramit Sharma. The probe team recommended action against the five cops based on an assessment of their adherence to the responsibilities assigned to them on the day of the crime and their statements on how the breach occurred.
The SIT is likely to recreate the crime scene as part of the continuing investigation.