Saharanpur: Azad Samaj Party (Kanshiram) chief Chandrashekhar Aazad was Wednesday evening allegedly attacked by a group of armed men who purportedly arrived in a Swift car and fired at least four bullets at him.
It was around 5pm and Chandrashekhar, also the co-founder of the Bhim Army, a Dalit rights organisation, was travelling in his Fortuner car along with a group of supporters. They were returning after attending a condolence meet held at a supporter’s house in Gandhi Colony, Deoband.
Though Chandrashekhar ducked to avoid the bullets fired at him, one of them grazed his waist. He was rushed to the hospital and is out of danger.
According to police sources, four persons were detained Thursday in connection with the incident and an FIR has been lodged against the unknown attackers on a complaint from Chandrashekhar’s aide Manish Kumar under section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sections of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, at Deoband Police Station.
Speaking to police officers at the community health centre of Deoband where he was first taken for initial treatment, Chandrashekhar said that though he himself does not remember much, his aides have identified the attackers.
“They ran towards Saharanpur… the highway. The other two vehicles (part of my convoy) with my supporters were behind my car, at some distance. There were five people in my car including my younger brother Manish. We took a U-turn. A doctor accompanying me has been injured, his hand was bleeding,” said Chandrashekhar in a video recording addressed to his supporters.
#WATCH | On the attack on him in Saharanpur, UP earlier today, Bhim Army leader Chandra Shekhar Aazad says, "I did not expect such a sudden attack. I want to appeal to my friends, supporters & workers across the country to maintain peace. We will continue our fight… pic.twitter.com/UFPTn3VIbk
— ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2023
“When the bullet was fired, I called up the SSP (senior superintendent of police), Saharanpur, and told him that a gunshot had been fired and that I thought I had suffered an injury,” he said.
Speaking to ThePrint, Chandrashekhar’s close aide Roshindra Commando said that the Bhim Army chief had been taken to the government hospital in Saharanpur. “The car in which the attackers came was a Haryana number Swift (HR70D0278). Our leader ducked to save himself, otherwise some major incident could have happened,” he said.
Kapil Azad, western UP in-charge of the Bhim Army, told ThePrint that “at least four bullets” were fired at Chandrashekhar.
“The bullets are stuck on the car’s body and one is lodged in the seat. The glass of all the windows of the vehicle have been broken,” he said.
SSP Vipin Tada told mediapersons that the Deoband police got information about the attack at around 5:15 pm after which police officials arrived at the spot.
“The bullet has grazed past the body of the injured. The incident is being probed. He is out of danger. Information provided by him and the evidence on the spot will be analysed and legal proceedings will be done,” he said.
He also told ANI that CCTV footage is being checked.
Early Thursday morning, the Saharanpur Police recovered the Swift Dzire used in the attack, sources told ThePrint.
Amid opposition’s attack over the “deteriorating” law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh following the incident, the state BJP spokesperson Alok Awasthi tweeted: “Under Yogi’s rule, no criminal is spared. This is not the SP government where criminals were openly protected,” he wrote.
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‘Had requested security for Chandrashekhar in the past’
Chandrashekhar not only commands respect in the Dalit community, but also has a loyal support base in western UP, especially in Saharanpur. His Azad Samaj Party has contested elections in the western UP area but is yet to taste major electoral success.
According to Kapil, Chandrashekhar’s team had written to the state government requesting security for their leader in the past.
“We had written to the state government to provide security to our leader three years ago but to no avail. Now, look at what has happened. When leaders are not safe in this government, what will happen to the common public? Several letters have been given to the government requesting to provide security to our leader but to no avail. When former ministers’ security has been reduced, what can we expect,” Kapil told ThePrint.
Bhim Army’s Barmer chapter, too, has now demanded security for Chandrashekhar.
Raising the voice of the rights of our society became such a big crime that while trying to kill Chandrashekhar Azad ji, he fired on his car. Ministry of Home Affairs should immediately provide security to Chandrashekhar Azad.@HMOIndia @dgpup #Security_For_BhimArmyChief pic.twitter.com/0qGaSSojBX
— Bhim Army – Barmer (@BA4Barmer) June 28, 2023
Hundreds of members of Bhim Army and Azad Samaj Party starting gathering outside the government hospital in Saharanpur Wednesday by 6 pm to show their support.
In the video message to them, Chandrashekhar appealed for calm. “I want to appeal to all my supporters, those who are outside the hospital and wherever they are, that they should maintain calm. We will fight using constitutional means. We don’t have a fight with anyone. I am fine but I will appeal to you to maintain calm. Listen to me. There is a festival tomorrow and it’s my request that you listen to me. I have the blessings of nature and I am well,” he said.
Despite this appeal, Chandrashekhar’s supporters remained outside the hospital and demanded the arrest of the attackers within 12 hours.
“There is chaos across the district. We are not giving days to the administration but only hours and we won’t leave until then. If they are not arrested within 12 hours, the 13th hour would belong to the Bhim Army. One more thing, Chandrashekhar Aazad ji has given a message …(to maintain calm)…,” Vinay Ratan Singh, national president of the Bhim Army announced outside the hospital.
#Saharanpur
प्रशासन के पास 12घंटे हैं 13वा घंटा भीम आर्मी का है।
भीम आर्मी राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष @VinayRatanSingh जी आपके आदेश का इंतजार रहेगा भाई @BhimArmyChief के लिए हर कीमत चुकाने को तैयार है बहुजन समाज pic.twitter.com/MbirLTwFLU— Shivam bharti (@sam23316) June 28, 2023
Opposition hits out at BJP govt
Reacting to the incident, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief former chief minister Akhilesh tweeted that the life-threatening attack on Chandrashekhar by “state-sponsored criminals” was an extremely condemnable and cowardly act.
“When public representatives are not secure in the BJP rule, what will happen to the common public?” he asked.
In his tweet, BJP spokesperson Awasthi had also tagged Yadav and said: “Akhileshji, before the police could find out, you seem to know who the criminals are, so please reveal their names and help the police.”
SP national general secretary Shivpal Singh Yadav wrote that “the spirits of anarchic elements in the state are so high that they are breaking all limits and now opposition is being targeted by both the regime and criminals.”
“The life-threatening attack on Bhim Army chief is an alarm for the hollow law and order situation. Wake up, people,” he said.
RLD national president Jayant Singh, who is also in alliance with the SP and the Azad Samaj Party, wrote that the incident was saddening.
“The life-threatening attack on Chandrashekhar Aazad is a saddening incident. I hope that Bhim Army chief recovers soon to walk his chosen path again,” he said.
Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin and Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, too, hit out at the deteriorating law and order situation in UP and condemned the attack on Twitter.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
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