CM Yogi’s statement that state is safe for industrialists from mafia stirs amid Atiq’s killing

New Delhi: Amidst allegations of conspiracy surrounding the killing of gangster-turned-politician Ahmad Atiq and his brother under police security, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's has made a statement asserting that no criminals can threaten industrialists in the state anymore.

During a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony for textile parks in Lucknow and Hardoi districts under the PM Mega Integrated Textiles and Apparel (PM Mitra) scheme, CM Yogi Adityanath asserted that industrialists in the state would no longer be vulnerable to intimidation from mafia or professional criminals, despite ongoing criticism of the government's handling of law and order following the recent murder of gangster Atiq Ahmed and his brother.

Amid a round of applause, Yogi said that neither mafia nor professional criminals can threaten the state’s industrialists over the phone, according to NDTV.

The chief minister, reportedly taking a jab at the previous Akhilesh Yadav administration, claimed that while the state was previously infamous for frequent riots, people no longer need to fear them. Yogi Adityanath pointed out that there have been no riots in the state from 2017 to 2023, a stark contrast to the more than 700 riots that occurred between 2012 and 2017.

They were led to take a medical examination at a hospital when shooters posing as journalists shot them point blank.

The gristly act took place while they were still surrounded by a police team, which triggered widespread criticism of the state’s law and order situation.

Responding to the criticism, the state government initiated a high-level probe into the murders.

UP police also formed a Special Investigation Team to probe the murders.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will hear a petition seeking an independent probe into the killings.

The petitioner also sought the court’s attention to the alleged encounter killings by UP police.