Aban Ahmed, the youngest son of slain gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed, was killed in a road accident in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi district on Thursday morning while travelling to meet his elder brother, Ali Ahmed, who is lodged in Jhansi Jail.

The 21-year-old was travelling from Prayagraj in a Creta SUV along with four friends when the vehicle crashed into a road divider in the Poonch police station area, around 70 kilometres before Jhansi.

Two Killed, Three Injured

The accident occurred at around 10.30 am. According to police, the SUV rammed into the divider with considerable force, leaving its front portion completely damaged and trapping all five occupants inside.

Police personnel, assisted by local residents, broke open the vehicle's doors to rescue those trapped.

Aban Ahmed, who was seated in the front passenger seat, and the driver, identified as Sonu, died at the scene. Three other occupants—Umar Ahmed, Mohammad Zaid and Aslam—sustained injuries and were shifted to the district hospital for treatment.

Cause of Crash Under Investigation

Authorities are examining the exact cause of the accident as differing accounts have emerged.

One of the injured occupants reportedly told investigators that the SUV lost control after hitting bricks lying on the highway.

Police, however, said the preliminary investigation suggests the driver lost control while attempting to avoid an animal that suddenly came onto the road.

Officials added that the vehicle was travelling at a high speed when the accident occurred. The rain-soaked highway may also have contributed to the crash.

Eyewitness Recounts High-Speed Collision

An eyewitness, Deepak Yadav, claimed the SUV was moving at a very high speed before the collision.

According to him, the driver first swerved to avoid a calf crossing the highway and then made another sharp turn to avoid a motorcycle before losing control and crashing into the divider.

He alleged that the impact was so severe that vehicle parts were scattered across nearly 40 feet of the highway.

Yadav said local residents rushed to the scene, used an iron rod to force open the doors and rescued the occupants before police arrived. Police reached the spot shortly after receiving information and shifted the injured to hospital.

Body Sent for Post-Mortem

Police said Aban sustained severe head injuries along with multiple fractures and died on the spot.

His body has been sent to the post-mortem facility at Jhansi Medical College. After the examination, the body will be handed over to the family.

According to local reports, he is expected to be buried in Prayagraj alongside the grave of his father.

Family Remains Under Legal Spotlight

Atiq Ahmed had five sons, with Aban being the youngest.

His brother Asad Ahmed was killed in a police encounter in Jhansi in 2023. Another brother, Ali Ahmed, is currently lodged in Jhansi Jail, while Umar Ahmed is imprisoned in Lucknow. Their elder brother, Ahzam, is pursuing higher education.

The family has remained under legal scrutiny since the murder of lawyer Umesh Pal in 2023. Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were shot dead during a police escort in Prayagraj in April 2023 while being taken for a medical examination.

Atiq Ahmed's wife, Shaista Parveen, continues to remain absconding, and Uttar Pradesh Police has announced a reward for information leading to her arrest.

Police said further investigation into Thursday's accident is underway.