Shots fired at Greater Noida house of SP’s Dankaur candidate

Unidentified men opened fire at the residence of Bevan Nagar, the Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate from Dankaur for the upcoming assembly elections. Bevan’s husband Harendar Nagar, who was the headman of Dadupur village, was killed in February last year, allegedly by shooters of the Sundar Bhati gang.

Bhudev Sharma, a constable deployed for his security, had killed one of the attackers before being gunned down by half a dozen men. Harender was a probable candidate for SP in Dankaur.

“Unidentified men fired shots from behind Nagar’s residence late on Sunday night. There are eight armed police personnel who were deployed for the Nagar family’s security after Harendar’s murder last year. They immediately retaliated with aerial firing and then searched for the attackers,” said Ajay Kumar Chaudhary, deputy superintendent of police (circle 2), Greater Noida.

The police said more than 15 rounds were fired. However, nobody was injured in the incident as the bullets hit the windows and wall of the house.

“The attackers fled in the dark. They were apparently on a vehicle. The police personnel deployed for the Nagars tried to chase them, but were not able to spot the attackers due to the darkness. The local police station was informed about the incident and more armed personnel were sent to the spot. Harendar’s brother Vikas was sleeping on the upper floor where the suspects fired shots. However, he escaped without injuries,” said Chaudhary.

Police said a case against unidentified persons was lodged at the Dankaur police station following the incident. Sundar Bhati, who the police say is the mastermind behind Harendar’s murder, is lodged at the Maharajganj jail.

“We will question members of the Bhati gang who are lodged in jail. All attackers in Harendar’s murder were arrested by the local police and the STF and are lodged in the city jail. Neighbouring police stations have been alerted regarding the incident as the suspects seem to have been heavily armed,” said Chaudhary.

Asked about the incident, district SP president Pratap Chauhan said, “It is a matter of law and order and the police are working well. We hope they will arrest the attackers soon.”