Bhim Army chief shot at by car-borne assailants in Uttar Pradesh

Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad was injured and rushed to a hospital after unidentified assailants opened fire on his car at Deoband in Saharanpur district on Wednesday evening, the Uttar Pradesh police said.

The incident took place at Gandhi Colony in Deoband when Azad, who also heads the Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshiram), was returning in an SUV after attending a programme, police said.

“The assailants were in a car and opened fire on Azad’s SUV from the right side. A bullet grazed his abdomen,” Saharanpur (City) superintendent of police Abimanyu Manglik said. “He has been admitted to a hospital and his condition is stable.”

Police and district administration officials rushed to the spot and a search operation was launched to nab the assailants. The vehicle used by the assailants had a Haryana registration number, police said.

Several senior police officers met Azad (36) at the hospital. He told the officers that he called the Saharanpur senior superintendent of police (SSP) immediately after the incident. Azad told the police that there were five people, including his younger brother, in the SUV when they were attacked, an officer said, requesting anonymity.

“The convoy of Chandrashekhar Azad was fired at by a few car-borne armed men. A bullet brushed past him,” SSP Vipin Tada said. “He is all right and has been taken to the CHC (community health centre) for medical treatment.”

He said the police were looking into every aspect of the incident. “Police are investigating the matter,” the SSP added.

Azad’s party colleague Dr Brijpal, who was accompanying him, said he too sustained a bullet injury. “I saw blood on his hand before I fell unconscious,” he said.

The borders of the district have been sealed, Manglik said. “A massive operation to track the assailant and their vehicle has been launched.”

He added that the Saharanpur police have also reached out to their counterparts in the adjoining districts to seek their support in the effort to nab the attackers.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Bhim Army and Aazad Samaj Party supporters gathered at the hospital, where additional security personnel were deployed.