I Lived In A Locality Next To Atiq Ahmed's In Prayagraj; I've Lived The Terror You Have Been Reading About

The writer of this piece still has family living in Prayagraj and hence wants to remain anonymous.

Recently, after the murder of mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed, many political leaders and 'public intellectuals' expressed shock that there are those who are celebrating his death.

While, I have several counters, I will keep it short.

Coming from Prayagraj and living in locality nearby Chakia (where Atiq’s residence is located, a minority-dominated locality), I have lived the fear and the terror which Atiq Ahmed and his men had instilled in the people of the city, especially when an SP Government ruled Uttar Pradesh.

As a kid, I was told to never take the route passing from Chakia locality, as there had been instances of dacoity and kidnapping.

There were several localities in Prayagraj, including Civil Lines (with highest property rates) and Jhalwa, where people didn't normally invest as it was said that Atiq and his men had eyes on all vacant lands.

There were also stories about his sons, who studied in one of the premier schools in Prayagraj, extorting money, carrying weapons to school, threaten teachers and doing all sorts of unlawful activities. 

Hundreds of families have been impacted due to the goonda raj that Atiq wreaked on Prayagraj. Some lost their properties worth crores, while others lost their loved ones.

Things turned worse during the administration of an SP government, since no Police Station would even register an FIR against the don.

Even if high-profile murder cases reached the courts, charges wouldn't be framed against Atiq.

Effectively, if you were a victim of Atiq's crimes, you had no remedy whatsoever. At a point in time, the then city of Allahabad worked on the whims and fancies of this mafia.

At this point, it is also important to point out that a significant section of the minority population of Prayagraj, who were also tortured by Atiq, is relieved at his end.

Therefore, it needs to be highlighted that, no we are not celebrating the violation of rule of law. The Government should in all fairness expedite the enquiry and frame charges against the ones involved in this murder. But at the same time, the relief and freedom that people of Prayagraj have now felt is because the era of this ruthless murderer has now ended.

The BJP Government in Uttar Pradesh has attained several milestones in cleaning up the law and order situation in the state, and ending the Atiq gang is one of its major achievements.