Indian Gangster Politicians

Interesting read into Indian society. Known gangster running the mob in a sizeable town after having his mentor murdered repeatedly elected to higher positions. Apparently common enough to don a moniker. Then murdered on live tv while escorted by 8 police. All 3 shooters survived, arrested.

Atiq Ahmed: The life of India's gangster-politician killed on live TV

They were in hot pursuit until the vehicle reached the hospital. In a final act of ruthless brutality, the men fired a couple of rounds into an inert Pal to make sure he was dead. Doctors found 19 bullets in his body. The lawmaker, who allegedly had close links with the underworld himself, had been married for just nine days..
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Pal was allegedly killed because he had dared to challenge Ahmed on his own turf. Ahmed had bequeathed his Allahabad West seat in the state elections to his brother and fellow strongman, Ashraf, in order to fight - and eventually win - a parliamentary election from neighbouring Phulpur (a prestigious seat that had previously sent India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, to parliament thrice). However, Ashraf had suffered a shock defeat by 4,000 votes at the hands of Pal. The gangster and his men had reportedly taken revenge by getting Pal murdered, and were named as the main accused in the case.
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Ahmed and his brother were gunned down point-blank on live TV outside a hospital in Prayagraj in the presence of more than a dozen armed policemen. The brothers had been in police custody and were speaking with journalists on their way to a routine medical examination.
The police arrested three men who, they said, killed the brothers because they wanted to "make a name for themselves in the criminal world". The murders shocked the country and the state government swiftly ordered an investigation.

 

Gangsters like Ahmed joined political parties, or formed their own, mainly for protection. They usually won in seats where social divisions driven by caste or religion were sharp and the government was seen to be failing to carry out its functions - delivering services, dispensing justice, or providing security - in an impartial manner.