PRAYAGRAJ — The Uttar Pradesh Police and the Special Task Force (STF) have intensified efforts to arrest Shaista Parveen, widow of slain Ex MP Atiq Ahmad, and Saddam, brother-in-law of Ashraf whose was also gunned down with Atiq on April 15.
Police teams are carrying out raids in localities and villages of Prayagraj and neighbouring Kaushambhi district, in all known possible hideouts, including the houses of their kin.
Police officials believe that with the murders of Atiq and his younger brother Ashraf, as well as death of Atiq’s son Asad Ahmad in an encounter with the STF in Jhansi on April 13, Shaista remains the only one who could shed more light on the planning and execution of February 24 killings of lawyer Umesh Pal and his two police guards.
Named as an accused in Umesh Pal murder case, Shaista has been on the run since the February 24 murder.
She carries a Rs 50,000 reward on her head.
Shaista did not attend the funerals of her son Asad on April 15 as well as of her husband and brother-in-law held at Kasari Masari graveyard on April 16.
According to a senior police official: “During the past 48 hours, raids have been carried out by police teams in search of Shaista Parveen at Baretha, Mariyadeeh, and Hatwa areas of Kaushambhi district, along with Rajruppur, Chakia, Kasari Masari, and Bamrauli areas of Prayagraj. Even the house of Shaista’s father Mohd Haroon has been searched in Kasari Masari area of Prayagraj.”
Several close relatives are also being questioned about her whereabouts, he added.
Sources claim that Shaista was last seen in Prayagraj in a commercial car and the police are also reaching out to the owners of travel agencies to find out if they have any leads. — IANS
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Photo: Shaista Parveen, widow of slain Ex MP Atiq Ahmad.
