Umesh Pal murder case: UP Police visit Odisha in Guddu Muslim link, grill local

Odisha police on Friday confirmed that a team of UP Police’s STF had recently visited the state in connection with the hunt for slain gangster Atiq Ahmed’s absconding aide Guddu Muslim, a top police officer said.

Odisha DGP Sunil K Bansal confirmed that the UP Special Task Force visited Bargarh district in western Odisha in connection with the sharp shooter Guddu Muslim’s driver meeting a man in the state and allegedly staying for some days in Bargarh district.

“They (UP STF) questioned a man here and Odisha Police provided assistance in accordance with protocol. The team did not inform us any details about the probe,” the DGP told reporters after a meeting with senior officers including ADG (Law & Order) and other senior police officers.

The DGP clarified that the UP Police has however, not arrested any person from Odisha.

Guddu’s driver reportedly stayed in at Bhatli town in Odisha’s Bargarh district after the Prayagraj incident.

Bargarh SP Prahlad Sahai Meena had also earlier confirmed about the visit of a 5-member STF team on April 18.

“The team camped in Bargarh and grilled one person. The team had informed us about its visit. They left yesterday,” the SP said.

Added Odisha’s Northern Range IG Deepak Kumar, “The UP STF had sought assistance from the local police. The team carried out verifications in the area and returned. No one was arrested”.

Guddu Muslim, a professional shooter, is on the run since killing of gangsters-turned-politicians Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf on Saturday night.

The shooter's arrest assumes importance for the probe as Ashraf’s last words before death was, “Main baat yeh hai ki Guddu Musli(the main thing is Guddu Muslim) ...” Besides. Guddu Muslim is among 10 accused named in the high-profile Umesh Pal murder case in UP. Six of them have been killed and Guddu Muslim is among the four others who are currently on the run.

The Uttar Pradesh police has launched a manhunt to catch them.

The police however dismissed media reports suggesting that Guddu Muslim had visited the holy town after Atiq and Ashrad’s killing at Prayagraj.

“We have no such information of Guddu Muslim’s visit to Puri,” Puri SP VK Singh said.