Gangster Atiq Ahmed's son killed in encounter: UP govt calls it 'historic action.'

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya congratulated the state's police after Gangster Atiq Ahmed's son was killed in a police encounter.

'This is a very historic action. It is a message to criminals that their era is over. Criminals who are on the run should surrender,' he said.

Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad's son Asad and an accomplice, both wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case, were killed in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Police in Jhansi on Thursday, officials said.

"Asad and Ghulam were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj and were carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh each. They were killed in an encounter with a UP STF team," said Special Additional Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar.

The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force team was led by two deputy superintendents of police, he said, adding, "Sophisticated foreign made weapons were recovered from the accused. Further details are awaited." Visuals showed two bodies lying beside a motorbike at the site of the alleged encounter. An ambulance later took them away.

Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 murder case of then BSP MLA Raju Pal and his two police security guards were shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj's Dhoomanganj area on February 24 this year.

Based on a complaint lodged by Umesh Pal's wife Jaya Pal, a case was registered on February 25 against Atiq Ahmad, his brother Ashraf, Asad, Ghulam and others.

(with PTI inputs)