PRAYAGRAJ: After a brief lull, city police have again launched a crackdown against henchmen of the jailed mafia don and ex-MP Atiq Ahmed and prepared a fresh list of around 26 key associates of the gang to attach and seize their properties under the Gangster Act.
The police had attached properties worth crores of rupees of two key aides of Atiq Ahmed named Zulfiqar alias Tota and Mazid in Kasari Masari and Puramufti areas last week.
Police dossier claimed a joint team of revenue department, and police had attached properties (70 Biswa) of the sharpshooter of Atiq’s gang, Zulfiqar alias Tota at Kasari Masari area under the limits of Dhoomanganj police station on June 11 under the Gangster Act.
A day before, the joint team also seized properties (30 Biswa)of a close associate of Atiq, Mazid at Bamrauli Uparhar area under the limits of Puramufti police station on June 12.
The joint team had also seized property of a deceased criminal Akbar in the Puramufti area.
On June 5 and 7, the joint team had seized properties of Khalid Azim alias Ashraf worth 28 crores at the Karari Masari area under the Gangster Act.
Ashraf is currently lodged at Bareilly district jail.
Inspector general of police (Prayagraj range) K P Singh told TOI that “After the decline in the second wave of Covid-19, the police have launched a drive against key associates of the mafia don Atiq Ahmed and their properties would be seized under the Gangster Act.
He, however, said, “Police have prepared a fresh list of criminals including gang members of Atiq Ahmed whose properties, accumulated through illegal means, would be attached and seized under the Gangster Act.
In August last year, the crackdown against jailed mafia don and ex-MP Atiq Ahmed by police, district administration and Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA), was launched.
The joint team had seized properties worth more than Rs 600 crores.
Police had severely dented the don’s economic empire and hit his armoury through suspension or cancellation of arms licences.
SP (City) Dinesh Kumar Singh, meanwhile, said, “The crackdown against key associates of jailed mafia don Atiq Ahmed’s properties accumulated through illegal means is continuing.” He added, “Police have identified properties of criminals located in city west area and neighbouring Kaushambi region and these properties would be attached under the Gangster Act.” Last year, the joint team apart from mafia Atiq Ahmed had also seized properties of other criminals including Dilip Mishra in Naini and Industrial areas.
After carrying a series of investigations and compiling documents that exposed the illegal wealth accumulated by Atiq and his henchmen in Civil Lines, Mehdauri, Kareli, Khuldabad, Lukerganj, Andhawa Crossing road, Roshan Bagh, Kareli, Chakia, Jhalwa, the joint team had attached properties and demolished illegal structures besides initiating their confiscation under the Gangsters Act.
“We are taking concrete steps of seizing, demolition and attachment of the properties of gangsters,” said another senior cop.