At least 14 of the 25 most heinous criminal cases registered against Atiq and Ashraf involved members of the minority community.
ateek Ahmed In 1989, he became Bahubali for the first time after being named in the alleged murder of a local councilor, Chand Baba. He became an independent MLA from Allahabad (West).
Atiq’s brother Ashraf was accused of kidnapping and raping two minor girls from a madrassa. Both were thrown out of the madrasa.
Another example is Zeeshan of Kasari Masari in Prayagraj Whose land was occupied by Atiq by demolishing a house. Atiq was so influential that the police could not get the land back from the kingpin.
Atiq’s name also cropped up in the 1994 murder of a corporator Ashfaq Kunnu. His name later surfaced when another councilor Naason had a narrow escape as an unknown assailant fired at him. Later in 2001, Naasan’s bullet-riddled body was found in Prayagraj’s Chakia area and the family blamed Atiq for it.
The slain gangster’s name also figured in the 2003 murder of BJP leader Ashraf. Ashraf was the neighbor of Atiq.