2nd Muslim ex-MP murdered with impunity: Owaisi

After gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed was killed in Prayagraj, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that Atiq was the second former MP from the Muslim community to be "murdered without impunity".

"Atiq is the second Muslim ex-MP who was murdered with impunity. Ehsan Jaffry was ruthlessly hacked to death by a mob in Gujarat in 2002 and today it's Atiq. Shot and killed in police custody," tweeted Owaisi.

Atiq Ahmed represented the Phulpur Lok Sabha constituency between 2004-2009.

Ehsan Jaffry was a member of the 6th Lok Sabha.

He was killed by a mob in the Gulbarg Society massacre on February 28, 2002, following the Godhra incident.

After Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf Ahmed were shot dead in Prayagraj, the AIMIM chief called the incident a "cold-blooded murder" while adding that people who are celebrating this killing are "vultures".

Addressing the mediapersons on Sunday, Owaisi said, "Uttar Pradesh's BJP government has a role in this. Supreme Court-monitored investigation should be done and a committee should be formed. No officer from Uttar Pradesh should be included in the committee. This was a 'cold-blooded' murder."

He further said, "How did they (killers) get those weapons?... Why were they raising religious slogans after killing them? What will you call them if not terrorists? Will you call them Patriots? People celebrating this incident are vultures..."

He said the incident raises a big question about the law and order situation.

The AIMIM chief questioned whether the public will have any faith in the constitution and Law and order of the country after this incident.

"I have always been saying that BJP in Uttar Pradesh is not running the government by the rule of law but by the rule of gun," he said.

Owaisi further demanded Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's resignation.

"I demand the resignation of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the Supreme Court to form a team and investigate this matter. We also demand all police officers present there should be removed from service," he said.

"Atiq and his brother were in police custody. He was handcuffed. JSR (Jai Shri Ram) slogans were also raised. The killing of both is the failure of Yogi's law and order system. Those celebrating encounter raj are also responsible for this murder," Owaisi added.

Days after Atiq Ahmed's son Asad was killed in an encounter in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi, the gangster-turned-politician and his brother, Ashraf Ahmed, were killed on Saturday while being taken for a medical examination in Prayagraj.

Both the gangsters collapsed on the spot after they were shot at nearly point-blank range.

The bodies of the gangster-turned-politician and his brother were brought to Kasari Masari burial ground in Prayagraj for burial.