Lucknow/IBNS: Days after the shocking murders of gangster Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf that prompted a wave of criticism over Uttar Pradesh's law and order situation, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Tuesday said no mafia or criminal can threaten industrialists in his state.

The Chief Minister made the remark while addressing an event to mark the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for setting up textile parks in Lucknow and Hardoi districts.

"Now, a professional criminal or a mafia cannot threaten an industrialist over the phone," he said as the audience broke into a round of applause.

"Uttar Pradesh was notorious for riots. Just the names of many districts scared people. Now there is no need to be scared," the Chief Minister said.

Taking a dig at the previous Akhilesh Yadav-led government, Adityanath said the state witnessed more than 700 riots between 2012 and 2017.

"But not a single riot broke out in UP between 2017 and 2023, no curfew was imposed. That situation did not arise. And this is the most conducive opportunity to invest and set up industries," he said.

Adityanath said Uttar Pradesh now "guarantees effective law and order arrangements".  

His remarks came in the aftermath of the shocking murders of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed and brother Ashraf outside a Prayagraj hospital Saturday night.

Atiq Ahmed (60) and his brother Ashraf, both incarcerated in connection with Umesh Pal murder case, were shot dead on Saturday by three men posing as journalists in close range while being taken for medical examination to Prayagraj’s Colvin Medical College and Hospital in police custody.

Earlier in the day, it was revealed that Atiq Ahmed had written a letter to UP CM Yogi Adityanath and CJI DY Chandrachud, to be given to them, if he was assassinated, media reports said.

His lawyer Vijay Mishra has revealed that the letter is in a sealed envelope and he is not aware of its contents, according to a report in the media.

Mishra said the letter was not with him and is being sent by some other person to the addressees, the report added.

The shooting occurred hours later the last rites of Ahmed's son Asad, who was gunned down in a police encounter in Jhansi on April 13, were performed here.