Umesh Pal murder case: UP cops double cash reward to Rs 1 lakh for information on Ashraf's relative Saddam

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh police on Saturday doubled the reward to Rs 1 lakh from Rs 50,000 on any information leading to arrest of Saddam, brother-in-law of slain don-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad's brother Ashraf. He is wanted in a case registered at Bithri Chainpur police station of Bareilly district.
On April 15, Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf Ahmed were shot dead from point-blank range in Prayagraj while they were being taken for a medical check-up in Prayagraj area.
The duo were buried at a graveyard in Prayagraj's Kasari Masari village.Police sources claimed that Saddam fled to Dubai from a Bengal airport.
A senior police officer said that Saddam used to facilitate meeting of certain people with Ashraf in the Bareilly central jail where he was lodged in before he was shot at on April 15 in Prayagraj. The police suspect that Saddam was involved in various criminal activities along with Atiq and his brother Ashraf.
On April 17, the police had announced a cash reward of Rs 50,000 for anyone providing information leading to the arrest of Saddam, who is the brother-in-law of Ashraf.
Additional director general of police, Bareilly zone, P C Meena on Friday announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh on Saddam's head.
Following the murder of lawyer Umesh Pal in Prayagraj on February 24, an FIR was filed at Bithri Chainpur police station against Saddam, Ashraf, his henchman Lalla Gaddi, Bareilly district prison warden Shivhari Awasthi, canteen director Dayaram alias Nanhe, jail officers and employees on charges of conspiracy, extortion and giving protection to criminals, among others.
Nine accused, including Lalla Gaddi, were sent to jail on the grounds that they used to work for Saddam.
It was through Saddam and Lalla Gaddi that the accused met Ashraf illegally in Bareilly district jail on February 12, according to police.