Umesh Pal murder: Cops are on trail of Ashraf's brother-in-law, who arrived in India from Dubai

Prayagraj, June 24 (HS): Saddam, the fugitive brother-in-law of dead mafioso Khalid Azeem (alias Ashraf), has returned to India from Dubai. Senior police officials have confirmed that the Uttar Pradesh Police has received specific information about Saddam's return. Saddam is accused of transporting the assailants involved in the murders of lawyer Umesh Pal and his two police guards to Bareilly jail to meet Ashraf in the run-up to the February 24 triple murder. Asad, the son of dead mafioso-politician Atiq Ahmed, was among those he brought to the jail for a meeting with Ashraf. Significantly, the absconding wife of Ashraf, Zainab Fatima, who is also wanted in connection with the killings, has been tracked down to Delhi.

As a result of these developments, a joint team of the STF and the Prayagraj Police unit has been dispatched to Delhi, according to a senior police official familiar with the situation. We have also called the police at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport about the situation, he added. Police believe Saddam may first meet with his sister Zainab in Delhi before fleeing with her to avoid the police dragnet. Saddam, who has a monetary reward of Rs. 1 lakh on his head, is on the U.P. Police wanted list. There are several cases against him in Bareilly as well. According to police authorities, Saddam is suspected of handling Ashraf's unlawful assets while residing in Bareilly.

Saddam had gone to Bareilly jail with hand-picked assassins days before Umesh Pal's murder and met Ashraf there. After the attacks, a video showing nine persons, including assailants named as Moha Asad (son of Atiq), Mohd Ghulam, Guddu Muslim, Vijay Chaudhary alias Usman, Sadakat Khan, and others, who arrived at Bareilly Jail on February 11, emerged and became popular on social media.

Saddam escaped to Dubai by aeroplane from Delhi after murdering Umesh Pal and his two police guards. Throughout this time, police were gathering information on Saddam from a friend of his who lived in the Prayagraj neighbourhood of Kareli. This person also gave the police his video and images of Dubai.

Five days ago, a police squad went to Hatwa village in Kaushambi district and questioned residents who were known to be close to Saddam. During this time, authorities received information that Zainab had traveled to Delhi. According to a police official, after evaluating this information, it was discovered that Saddam had arrived in Delhi via Dubai.

After arriving in Delhi, the police team is working to gather information. Saddam had stayed in Bareilly Jail as long as Atiq's brother Ashraf remained there, making all preparations for him and managing his criminal business. Saddam had arranged for preferential treatment for Ashraf through his contacts among jail authorities.

Hindusthan Samachar/Abhishek Awasthi