Atiq Ahmed’s former stronghold renamed Shrikrishnapuri, 1,200 poor families to get houses: Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. File. | Photo Credit: PTI

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday (October 15, 2026) announced that Prayagraj's Kasari-Masari, once considered a stronghold of slain gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed, would be renamed Shrikrishnapuri, with houses for 1,200 poor families coming up on land freed from the mafia leader's possession.

Issuing a stern warning to criminals, he said no one would dare to indulge in mafia activities in Prayagraj, and those who did, would have to be prepared to be "reduced to dust".

"Mafia Atiq Ahmed's terror stronghold Kasari-Masari will be developed as 'Shrikrishnapuri'," he said, adding that the proposed township and development projects planned during the ongoing Sharadiya Navratri period would be part of the initiative.

The Chief Minister made the announcement after performing the 'bhoomi pujan' of the Padma Lok Apartment project, a multi-storey residential complex being developed on government land in Prayagraj that was freed from the possession of Atiq Ahmed.

Under the State government's drive to reclaim land from mafias and provide housing to the poor, 602 families in Kasari-Masari would receive houses in the first phase and another 598 in the second phase, Mr. Adityanath said.