Umesh Pal shootout: UP cop seeks help from 7 other states in tracing accused

Uttar Pradesh police officials have sent photographs and other details of the gunmen with their counterparts in seven other states in connection with the murder case of Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 killing of BSP MLA Raju Pal.

According to media reports, the Uttar Pradesh police have sent details regarding the case to police officials in Bihar, Delhi, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.

Officials investigating the matter suspect the shooters may have fled to other states to escape arrest. It is also speculated that the shooters often change their hideouts and use WhatsApp to communicate with each other.

Umesh Pal, who was the main witness to the murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal, and his police bodyguard Sandeep Nishad were shot dead last Friday outside Umesh's house in the Dhoomanganj area of ​​Prayagraj.

Ahmed is one of the main accused in the 2005 murder case.

He is currently lodged in Ahmedabad Central Jail and has also sought directions to ensure that no physical or bodily injury or harm is caused to him during police custody or interrogation. He also sought a direction to prevent the State of Uttar Pradesh and others from taking him from Ahmedabad Central Jail to Prayagraj or any other part of Uttar Pradesh.

Ahmed's wife Shahista Praveen, named in the FIR in the killing of a key witness in the BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case, was arrested by the police after Umesh Pal's wife Jaya Pal lodged a complaint against Atiq Ahmed, his brother, at Dhumanganj police station. Khalid Azeem, Atiq's wife Shaista Parveen, their children and other unnamed associates of Atiq Ahmed. Police also arrested Ahmed's two sons and his younger brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf on February 25, 2023.