Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan Shot At In UP's Saharanpur

Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan, Bhim Army Chief and National President of Aazad Samaj Party - Kanshi Ram, was shot at by unidentified assailants in the Saharanpur district in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday evening.

The Bhim Army leader was taken to a hospital following the attack by a few armed men. A bullet brushed past him, according to ANI.

"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 told PTI.

In a statement released on his Facebook page, his party said, "The deadly attack on Bhim Army Chief and National President Bhai Chandrasekhar Azad in Deoband of Saharanpur is a cowardly act of stopping the Bahujan Mission Movement! Demands quick arrest of accused, strict action and security of National President Bhai Chandrasekhar Azad ji!"

In his first response after the incident, the Bhim Army Chief said, "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 had gone to attend a 'terhavin' ritual at a supporter's home Saharanpur district's Deoband and the assailants fired multiple shots at his SUV when he was leaving.

The police said that the vehicle which the assailants used had 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.

On the other hand, the Samajwadi Party slammed the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government over the incident, questioning the law and order situation under his 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!" Yadav tweeted in Hindi.