Former Indian politician Atiq Ahmed, who had previously been convicted of kidnapping, has been shot dead live on TV alongside his brother, Ashraf. The incident occurred during an interview with journalists in Prayagraj, also known as Allahabad. Ahmed, who was under police escort, had previously claimed that his life was under threat from the police. Three men posing as journalists quickly surrendered and were taken into custody after the shooting. A local court had sentenced Ahmed and two others to life in jail in March in a kidnapping case. Ahmed had dozens of cases including kidnapping, murder and extortion registered against him over the past two decades. Following the incident, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered a judicial probe into the killings and banned large gatherings in the districts of Uttar Pradesh. Human rights activists have raised concerns over police extra-judicial killings in the state, which the government denies.
