Bhubaneswar: Amid reports about Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP STF) visiting Bargarh, DGP Sunil Bansal on Friday confirmed that the team, which is currently on the hunt for Atiq Ahmed’s absconding aide Guddu Muslim, had visited the state two days ago and spent a day in the western Odisha town.
“They carried out questioning and we provided assistance in accordance with the protocol. However, the team did not inform us anything about the probe,” he said after an emergency meeting, which was attended by ADG (Law & Order) and other senior police officers.
The UP STP reportedly questioned one person at Bhatli in connection with the case and and it is being said that Guddu Muslim’s driver had stayed with him for some days in Bargarh after the Prayagraj incident.
Bargarh SP Prahlad Sahai Meena had earlier confirmed about the visit of a 5-member STF team on April 18. “The team camped in Bargarh and grilled one person. We extended all cooperation as per rules. The team had informed us about its visit. They left yesterday,” the SP said, adding that no one was arrested.
Northern Range IG Deepak Kumar too confirmed the reports. “The UP STF had sought assistance from the local police. The team carried out verifications in the area and returned back. They examined a person. We are unaware about their course of investigation. No one was arrested,” he added.
Also Read: Hunt For Atiq Ahmed’s Absconding Aide Guddu Muslim Brings UP STF To Odisha’s Bargarh
A dreaded criminal and a former professional shooter, Guddu Muslim has been on the run since the gunning down of gangsters-turned-politicians Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf on Saturday night. Ashraf’s last words, “Main baat yeh hai ki Guddu Muslim…” before he and his brother Atiq were pumped with bullets had put the spotlight back on the “bomb specialist”.
On Thursday, national media had reported that the gangster had taken shelter in Odisha’s Puri district. However, Puri district police denied having any information on presence of the notorious criminal in the seaside town. Police is yet to confirm the location of Guddu Muslim. “We have no information,” Puri SP Vishal Singh told the media while responding to queries on the notorious criminal.
Guddu’s last known location was in Karnataka.
