Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad shot at in UP’s Saharanpur

There were five people inside the car, including Azad and his younger brother, when they were attacked. (Special Arrangement)

In a video statement released by his party later, the Azad Samaj Party chief asked his supporters to maintain peace. “I appeal to my people that if you love me, please maintain peace. We will fight our case constitutionally. I am physically fit, nothing will happen to me. It is Eid tomorrow, people are excited about it,” he said from the hospital in Saharanpur.

Aazad was returning from Delhi to his home in Chhutmalpur town of Saharanpur, when he was attacked. There were five people in the vehicle with him, including his younger brother.

“Around 5 pm, police received information that some assailants had fired at Aazad’s vehicle in Deoband. We immediately reached the spot and saw that the bullet had grazed his stomach. Doctors say he is out of danger now,” said Dr Vipin Tada, Senior Superintendent of Police, Saharanpur.

Visuals showed the SUV with shattered windows and what appeared to be a bullet hole in the door on the passenger side. The seat where Aazad was sitting also had a bullet hole.

Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad shot at in Saharanpurhttps://t.co/hNeBzmKrUr pic.twitter.com/dcrMZKrayV

— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) June 28, 2023

With no arrests so far, Tada said police will thoroughly investigate the sequence of events. “We will check CCTV footage and the forensic team will analyse the evidence. We will take all necessary actions as per the law,” he said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Aazad’s supporters from different parts of western Uttar Pradesh arrived at the Saharanpur hospital and protested against the police department. They demanded the arrest of the accused at the earliest.

“Such incidents are happening again and again with our leader. Why are the police not providing security? This is a clear risk of his life. We will not accept this. We will keep protesting until the accused are arrested,” said Amit Kasana, a supporter from Greater Noida.

SP (City) Abhimanyu Manglik, who arrived at the hospital, assured Aazad’s supporters that they were gathering evidence to arrest the accused. “I personally met Chandrashekhar Aazad, he is feeling better. I also spoke to the doctors, they said that his vitals are normal… most probably, he will be discharged tomorrow morning,” said Manglik.

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

The attack drew sharp reactions from across the political spectrum. Blaming “criminals protected by the powerful”, Samajwadi Party president and former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav called it a “highly condemnable and cowardly act”. “When people’s representatives are not safe under BJP rule, what will happen to the general public,” he tweeted, adding that there was “jungle raj” in the state.

Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav said the attack “is a reflection of the deteriorating law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh”.

AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh tweeted: “There’s no end to the attacks on leaders in UP. The attack on Aazad, a young leader who has fought bravely for the underprivileged, in broad daylight reveals the reality of jungle raj in the state. Strict action should be taken against the attackers.”