Delhi MLA shot at,attackers escape

Singh is the younger brother of local strongman Kishen Pehalwan,who has several cases against him.

Around 8.30 am,Singh got down from his car and was walking towards his office at Dichgaon Chowk when six-seven people opened fire at him,police said.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers were waiting outside Singh’s office and had first bowed in front of him to greet him like other visitors. They then pulled out firearms and shot at Singh.

“The assailants shot at Singh from a very close range. Singh was shot twice and his cousin Dharampal,while trying to save him,also received bullet injuries. A few eyewitnesses have told us that the assailants fled from the spot on foot,” an investigating official said.

A total of six rounds were fired.

Police sources said Singh walked into the office compound after he was injured,but the attackers also barged in and exchanged a few blows before fleeing.

He was taken to Mata Chanan Devi Hospital in Janakpuri. Singh received bullet injuries on his stomach and left shoulder,and Dharampal was shot on his hands and thighs. The condition of the two is said to be stable.

DCP (Southwest) A K Ojha said,“Prima facie,it appears that the assailants came in a car and parked it at a distance. It is not possible to escape on foot from the spot. They must have used the car. We have registered a case.”

Eyewitnesses have pointed to two Tata Indica cars,which sped off from the spot after the incident.

Police suspect it to be a case of personal rivalry and are questioning all the suspects with whom Singh’s family,known as the ‘Pehalwan Parivar’,had a tiff.

Devender,a relative,said,“I don’t want to name anyone,but there was a person with whom Bharat had a tiff some months ago. It was at Baba Haridas Mandir in Jharoda where Bharat went for a prayer ceremony. The man was drunk and abused Bharat for no reason. There was some kind of a physical confrontation as well.”

In April,Singh and his party members reportedly had a fight with a few people,again from Jharoda Kalan,who were allegedly involved in booth capturing.

“Some criminals had indulged in booth capturing. We managed to stop them and also won the election,” said Devender.

Several members of Anoop-Balraj gang are also being questioned. The gang reportedly harbours a grudge against the Pehalwan Parivar,after Anoop and Balraj were killed.

While DCP Ojha refused to comment on any raids,sources said raids were being conducted in Jharoda village. Two persons were also questioned,a source said. A CFSL team also visited the crime spot to collect samples.