Kamlesh Tiwari murder: Gujarat ATS to handover two main accused to UP Police; three others sent to police custody

The Gujarat ATS had arrested the two main accused in the case - Ashfaq Hussain Jakirhussain Shaikh (34) and Moinuddin Khurshid Pathan (27) - from the Gujarat-Rajasthan border.

LUCKNOW: The two main accused in Hindu Samaj Party leader Kamlesh Tiwari's murder case - Ashfaq Hussain Jakirhussain Shaikh (34) and Moinuddin Khurshid Pathan (27) - who were arrested by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) from the Gujarat-Rajasthan border will be handed over to the UP Police for further action. The two killers were arrested from Gujarat-Rajasthan border near Shamlaji. 

Both Ashfaq and Moinuddin are currently in the custody of Gujarat ATS. It is to be noted that Gujarat ATS had already arrested three persons in a joint operation with Uttar Pradesh police in connection with this case.

The Gujarat ATS said in a press release that in the primary interrogation both Ashfaq and Moinuddin have accepted their involvement in the murder of Hindu Samaj Party leader Kamlesh Tiwari. According to Gujarat ATS, the two accused had reached Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday from Nepal before they decided to proceed towards Gujarat.

On his turn, UP DGP OP Singh said, ''Our teams were after them since the murder. UP, Gujarat and Maharashtra Police worked in a coordinated manner. We will bring them to UP on transit remand as soon as possible.''

Tiwari was killed by Ashfaq and Moinuddin on October 18 at his residence in Lucknow's Naka Hindola area. The duo fled after committing the crime but left behind vital clues including their footage in a CCTV camera.

The family members of Tiwari have expressed happiness over the arrest of both the accused. Talking to Zee News, Tiwari's mother said that Gujarat ATS has done a splendid job. She has demanded that both accused must be awarded capital punishment. Tiwari's son also echoed similar feelings and said that the accused must be hanged.

On Monday, Uttar Pradesh Police had announced a reward of Rs 2.50 lakh each for information leading to the arrest of the two suspected killers of Tiwari. Both Ashfaq and Moinuddin were spotted in Shahjahanpur near Lucknow on Sunday following which the Special Task Force (STF) raided the hotels and madrasas in the city.

It is to be noted that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe this case.

On Sunday, Yogi Adityanath met the family members of Tiwari at his residence in Lucknow. Talking to media after her meeting with UP chief minister, Tiwari's wife Kiran Tiwari had said that Yogi Adityanath had assured the family that justice will be done and those involved in Tiwari's murder will not be spared. "We demanded capital punishment for the murderers. He assured us that they will be punished," she had said.

In a related development, a local court sent three other accused in Kamlesh Tiwari's murder case to police custody for four days. The three accused  - Maulana Mohsin Sheikh, Faizan and Rashid Ahmed Pathan - were presented before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court here on Tuesday.

Uttar Pradesh Police had taken the transit remand of these accused after they were arrested in Surat, Gujarat.

(With Agency inputs)