Raju Pal

Raju Pal (died January 2005) was a Bahujan Samaj Party politician. In 2004, gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed resigned from Prayagraj West Assembly constituency after being elected to the Lok Sabha.[1] Raju Pal won the subsequent by-election in November 2004, defeating Atiq's younger brother Mohammad Ashraf.

Raju Pal
Member of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly
In office
2004–2005
Preceded byAtiq Ahmed
Succeeded byKhalid Azim
ConstituencyPrayagraj West
Personal details
Died25 January 2005
Political partyBahujan Samaj Party
SpousePuja Pal
OccupationPolitician

In January 2005, Raju Pal was shot dead while going to his village on the occasion of Republic day by Atiq Ahmed's goons for defeating his brother Ashraf.[2] Thereafter, Ashraf won the seat by defeating Pal's wife Pooja Pal.[3] Ashraf was the prime accused in the murder. Mohammad Ashraf's brother Atiq had also been charged with complicity in the murder.[4] While Atiq was in jail with 21 criminal cases pending against him, the then Mayawati government faced criticism for its failure to arrest Ashraf.[5]

Political career

Raju Pal was known for his involvement in muscle power politics.[6][7] In the 2004 general election, he contested and won by a margin of 4,000 votes.[7] Pal had contested from the Prayagraj West Assembly seat that had become vacant after Atique Ahmed was elected as MP from Phulpur on Samajwadi Party ticket.[8] In the by-election held for this seat, Pal was fielded by the Bahujan Samaj Party and defeated Atique's younger brother, Mohd. Ashraf.[9] However, Pal's political career was marred by multiple attempts on his life. In November and December of the same year, there were two failed attempts to assassinate him, these involved the use of guns and improvised explosives.[10] During one of these attempts, he was severely injured and had to be hospitalized.[8] Despite these incidents, no preventive measures were taken by party leaders or the government. Pal was shot dead in broad daylight on January 25, 2005, a few months after becoming an MLA for the first time.[10]

Assassination

On January 25, 2005, Raju Pal was shot dead in broad daylight, leading to his first-time seat of MLA becoming empty once again. His assassination attracted criticism for the handling of the situation by the government.[11][12] Atiq Ahmed & his brother were the main accused in his assassination.

Aftermath

Following Raju Pal's death, Mayawati announced that she would give the party ticket to his widow to contest the bypoll for the vacant seat.[13] His widow Puja Pal then contested the seat against Ashraf Ahmed but lost.[14] She would later defeat him in 2007 assembly elections and retain the seat in 2012 assembly election.[15][16] In 7 May 2021, one of the main accused in the case, Mohd. Akbar, a history sheeter died of COVID-19.[17] On 24 February 2023, Umesh Pal, a prime witness in the murder of Raju Pal was killed. Atique Ahmed was the main accused in Raju Pal and Umesh Pal murder case.[10][18][19] On 13 April 2023, Atique's son Asad was killed in a police encounter.[9][11] On 15 April 2023, Atique Ahmed and his brother Mohammad Ashraf were shot dead while being escorted for a court-mandated medical checkup.[12][20]

References
  1. "Let CBI probe Raju Pal murder: new government". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 16 May 2007. Archived from the original on 16 November 2007.
  2. "Atiq Ahmed shot dead: Who was Raju Pal, MLA whose murder made Atiq Ahmed most wanted criminal?". DNA India. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  3. "Uttar Pradesh Assembly Polls : Gangsters join race for UP Assembly". Sify. April 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2007.
  4. Arun Chaubey (May 2007). "All with 'shades' least are 'white'". Zee News. Archived from the original on 14 May 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2007.
  5. Singh, Vijay Pratap (16 July 2009). "Raju Pal murder: STF to help arrest Ashraf". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 21 January 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  6. "Canker of criminalization". frontline.thehindu.com. 24 February 2005. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  7. Gupta, Shekhar (16 April 2023). "'Murderer at 17, brutal mafioso' with stint in Parliament: Atiq Ahmed, a story of crime & heartland politics". ThePrint. Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  8. "पंक्‍चर बनाने वाले की बेटी हैं MLA पूजा पाल, 9 दिन में हो गई थीं विधवा | MLA Pooja Pal is the daughter of a puncture maker, became a widow in 9 days". Bhaskar (in Hindi). 22 January 2016. Archived from the original on 27 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  9. "Atiq Ahmed Son Encounter: Mafia Atiq's son Asad was killed in a police encounter". Yugantar Pravah. Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  10. "Umesh Pal murder: Atiq Ahmed to be shifted from Gujarat's Sabarmati jail to Prayagraj in 36 hours". India Today. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  11. "Atiq Ahmed's son Asad killed in police encounter: How Ahmed's family is implicated in the Raju Pal and Umesh Pal murder cases". Indian Express. 13 April 2023. Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  12. "Atiq Ahmad, his brother Ashraf shot dead in Prayagraj, 3 attackers arrested". Hindustan Times. 15 April 2023. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  13. "Mayawati seeks CBI inquiry into Pal murder case". The Times of India. 3 February 2005. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 5 May 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  14. "Atiq Ahmed Murder: The 18-year-old curse that destroyed dreaded UP mafia don". Firstpost. 16 April 2023. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  15. "Ex-MLA Puja Pal to contest from Unnao seat on SP ticket". The Times of India. 29 March 2019. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  16. "Allahabad High Court cancels Atiq Ahmed's bail in Raju Pal murder case". The Indian Express. 31 May 2017. Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  17. "MLA राजू पाल हत्याकांड के आरोपी की कोरोना से मौत:अतीक अहमद का करीबी था मो. अकबर, कई जिलों में 20 से ज्यादा मुकदमें दर्ज थे | MLA Raju Pal murder accused died of corona: Mohd was close to Atiq Ahmed. Akbar, more than 20 cases were registered in many districts". Bhaskar (in Hindi). 7 May 2021. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  18. Salaria, Shikha (26 March 2023). "Atiq Ahmed to be shifted to Prayagraj for 2007 abduction case verdict, UP cops reach Gujarat jail". ThePrint. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  19. "Umesh Pal murder | U.P. Police doubles reward to ₹5 lakh for information on five accused". The Hindu. 14 March 2023. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  20. "'Main baat Guddu Muslim...': Atiq Ahmad, brother shot dead as they were speaking". Hindustan Times. 15 April 2023. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
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