Prayagraj Property Dealer’s Murder: IS-227 Land Mafia Gang’s Growing Influence Raises Serious Law and Order Concerns. The killed man was another  member of Gangster Atiq and Ashraf  Gang.

Amid repeated government assertions of a strict crackdown on land mafia networks, the continued activities of the IS-227 gang in Prayagraj have raised serious concerns regarding the effectiveness of law enforcement and the prevailing law-and-order situation in the city.

A series of recent incidents indicates that organized land-grabbing syndicates remain active and continue to operate with apparent impunity, despite ongoing administrative efforts to curb such activities.

The most recent and alarming incident occurred on Wednesday evening in the Ainuddeenpur locality under the Kareli police station limits, where property dealer Mohammad Irfan was shot dead in a brazen attack carried out in public view.

                                   (The pictures of Mafia Dn brothers Atiq and Ashraf, responsible for hundreds of murders, kidnappings, and extortions, including land and house grabbing in Prayagraj and elsewhere in the state of UP) Left to Right, Ashraf and Atiq

According to reports, the incident took place at approximately 6:30 pm while Irfan was sitting at a tea stall.

Four masked assailants arrived on two motorcycles and opened fire at close range, killing him on the spot.

It is disturbing to note that the police till now have not openly said that the slain property dealer who was shot dead was the shadow of Ashraf, the dreaded Mafia younger brother of mafia don turned politician Atiq Ahmad.

Both Atiq and Ashraf were murdered while they were in the company of a battery of cops who had brought them for medical examination from Jail to District Colvin Hospital in Prayagraj from the Jail. This was in 2023

The execution-style manner of the attack strongly suggests the involvement of professional hired shooters.

This incident is not an isolated case but part of a pattern of escalating violence linked to land disputes in the region.

Recently, another land trader in Kareli was chased and forcibly stopped in his car, after which he was assaulted by a group of individuals allegedly linked to the same mafia network.

A video of the incident went viral on social media, following which the police registered a case against several accused persons reportedly associated with the land mafia.

Earlier, in November 2025, an attempt was made to abduct builder Dr. Zeeshanul Haq in the Civil Lines area.

It was alleged that individuals connected to the IS-227 gang targeted him after he refused to pay extortion money.

The victim reportedly claimed that timely police intervention could have prevented the escalation of threats, but alleged inaction emboldened the accused.

The extent of the gang’s influence became more evident last year when government land earmarked in Bamrauli for the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the election office was allegedly encroached upon by individuals linked to organized land mafia groups.

Although authorities initiated action in the matter, several accused persons could not be apprehended.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising officials from seven departments had earlier submitted a report detailing the gang’s involvement in economic crimes and illegal occupation of land.

Police records indicate that the IS-227 gang continues to have more than 120 active members.

Last year, Ali, the son of slain mafia don Atiq Ahmed, was declared the leader of the gang by law enforcement authorities.

The continued presence of such an extensive criminal network highlights the need for strong and sustained action to dismantle the land mafia ecosystem operating in the city.

Meanwhile, in the latest development in the Mohammad Irfan murder case, Prayagraj police have arrested two accused persons and sent them to jail on Friday.

The police have also recovered a motorcycle allegedly used in the commission of the crime.

However, key named accused persons, including Asif Durrani and his brother Rashid Durrani, along with the hired shooters, remain absconding even three days after the incident.

To track down the remaining accused, five police teams have been formed and deployed across Prayagraj, Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, and nearby districts.

Acting on intelligence inputs, police arrested Mohammad Hussain alias “Plumber,” a resident of Ainuddeenpur, and Mohammad Wasim alias “Kabootar,” a resident of Kareli, near the Railway Dot Bridge in the Bakshi Modha area.

During interrogation, the accused reportedly disclosed that they were acquainted with Asif Durrani and Rashid Durrani, and that a land-related dispute between Asif Durrani and Mohammad Irfan had led to the conspiracy to commit the murder.

According to the police investigation, Mohammad Hussain, alias Plumbe,r allegedly informed Asif Durrani that Irfan was present at the tea stall, effectively acting as an informant.

Based on this tip-off, the hired shooters carried out the fatal attack.

Investigators also revealed that Mohammad Was,im alias Kaboo, tar was present near the scene of the crime along with Asif Durrani and assisted in facilitating the escape of the shooters after the murder.

Police findings so far indicate that, apart from Asif Durrani and Rashid Durrani, the conspiracy involved Mohammad Hussain alias Plumber, Mohammad Wasim alias Kabootar, and Dilshad alias Safan.

However, the identities of the contract shooters who actually fired the shots are yet to be established.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the motive behind the murder was a business dispute over land dealings.

Police sources revealed that Mohammad Irfan and Asif Durrani were previously partners in a property business venture.

However, disagreements related to a specific land transaction reportedly led to a bitter fallout, eventually turning into a serious personal rivalry that culminated in the fatal attack.

Confirming the arrests, DCP City Manish Shandilya stated that two accused involved in the conspiracy have been sent to jail, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining named accused as well as identify and arrest the hired shooters responsible for the killing.

Authorities have expressed confidence that the absconding suspects will be arrested soon as the investigation progresses.