Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad Shot At In Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur

Chandrashekhar Azad had gone to attend a 'terhavin' ritual at a supporter's home in Saharanpur district's Deoband when assailants fired multiple shots at his SUV as he was leaving. While a bullet grazed his abdomen, his condition is stable

Outlook Web Desk

Updated on: 28 June 2023 12:38 pm

Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad attacked in UP

Dalit leader and Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad was injured when unidentified men opened fire at his car in Deoband on Wednesday.

He had gone to attend a 'terhavin' ritual at a supporter's home Saharanpur district's Deoband, police said. Assailants fired multiple shots at his SUV when he was leaving.

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

According to police, the vehicle used by the assailants carried a Haryana registration number. "The borders of the district have been sealed and a massive operation to track the assailant and their vehicle has been launched," said Manglik. The officer added the Saharanpur police has also reached out to its counterpart in adjoining districts to seek their support in the effort to nab the attackers.

Bhim Army leader and Aazad Samaj Party - Kanshi Ram chief, Chandra Shekhar Aazad taken to a hospital in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh after his convoy was attacked by a few armed men and a bullet brushed past him. Details awaited. https://t.co/TDVzdFGUDa pic.twitter.com/URJCGGAOiU
— ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2023

"I don't remember well but my people identified them. Their car went towards Saharanpur. We took a U-Turn. Five of us, including my younger brother, were in the car when the incident occurred," Azad said, while speaking to reporters.

#WATCH | "I don't remember well but my people identified them. Their car went towards Saharanpur. We took a U-Turn. Five of us, including my younger brother, were in the car when the incident occurred..," says Bhim Army leader and Aazad Samaj Party - Kanshi Ram chief, Chandra… pic.twitter.com/MLeVR8poaN
— ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2023

The Samajwadi Party hit out at the state government over the incident, questioning the law and order situation under the BJP rule.

"The murderous attack on Chandrashekhar Azad, National President of Azad Samaj Party in Deoband, Saharanpur, by criminals protected by power is highly condemnable and cowardly act. When people's representatives are not safe under the BJP rule, then what will happen to the general public? Jungle Raj in UP!" SP president and former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav tweeted in Hindi.

सहारनपुर के देवबंद में आज़ाद सामाज पार्टी के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष श्री चन्द्रशेखर आज़ाद पर सत्ता संरक्षित अपराधियों के द्वारा जानलेवा हमला घोर निंदनीय एवं कायरतापूर्ण कृत्य है।

बीजेपी राज में जब जनप्रतिनिधि ही सुरक्षित नहीं तो आम जनता का क्या होगा?

यूपी में जंगलराज!
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) June 28, 2023

Senior SP leader Shivpal Singh Yadav said the morale of criminals in the state is so high that they "have started breaking all their limits". "The opposition in Uttar Pradesh is now the target of both the government and the criminals," he said in a tweet in Hindi. He said the "deadly attack" on the Bhim Army chief is a commentary on the law and order situation in the state. "Wake up government!"

प्रदेश में अपराधियों के हौंसले इतने बुलंद हैं कि अराजक तत्व अपने सभी हदों व सरहदों को तोड़ने लगे हैं।
यूपी में विपक्ष अब सत्ता व अपराधियों दोनों के निशाने पर है।
भीम आर्मी चीफ चंद्रशेखर पर हुआ जानलेवा हमला प्रदेश के खोखले हो चुके कानून व्यवस्था के लिए एक अलार्म है।
जाग जाओ सरकार!
— Shivpal Singh Yadav (@shivpalsinghyad) June 28, 2023

Chandrashekhar heads the Aazad Samaj Party which he founded in March 2020.