Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad was discharged from a Saharanpur hospital on Thursday, a full 24 hours after he was shot at by unidentified assailants. Azad, who heads the Azad Samaj Party (ASP), was being treated for his injuries and was to be discharged on Thursday afternoon. However, party supporters put forth certain demands before the administration; Azad was discharged only after these demands were met.
The ASP president was travelling through Deoband in Uttar Pradesh after attending a programme at a supporter’s residence when his vehicle was attacked by unidentified gunmen. A bullet was fired at the leader, piercing the vehicle’s door and grazing his stomach. He was admitted to a Community Health Centre in Deoband, where he received first aid. Azad was then referred to Saharanpur District Hospital where he was admitted to the ICU under supervision. As news of the attack spread, thousands of Bhim Army supporters made their way to the hospital, where they remained through the night. MLAs from the Samajwadi Party, the Rashtriya Lok Dal and Congress’s Uttar Pradesh unit visited Azad as well. A heavy police force was deployed to the hospital to contain the ruckus. On Thursday afternoon, supporters demanded that Azad be provided security. Other demands included arresting those involved, and notably, the provision of arms licenses to Bhim Army supporters. The administration made security arrangements for the leader on Thursday evening, after which he was discharged and set out for his residence in Chhutmalpur, UP.
Questions have now arisen as to whether the attack was a conspiracy against the leader. If sources are to be believed, the Intelligence Department has received inputs regarding plans to incite violence in western UP and that the attack was one such attempt. Police and security agencies have been put on alert in the area.
The Bhim Army leader was travelling with a convoy of vehicles when a Swift broke through the Intelligence and security agencies have begun investigating the incident and about half a dozen teams have been deployed. SSP Vipin Tada also made a statement, promising those guilty would not be spared and strict action would be taken. The SSP also said that authorities would not allow violence to break out in the city or the district at large.
Meanwhile, police recovered the vehicle used in the attack—sporting Haryana plates—to a Chandigarh resident. It was then revealed that the vehicle was reported stolen about six months ago. Shortly after the attack, police recovered the vehicle from a village close to Deoband and a local youth was taken into custody. Upon further questioning, it was revealed that the vehicle had been provided by someone from the nearby Miragpur village.
Two others have now been taken into custody and police are conducting raids in locations revealed by those who were detained. However, police are still trying to locate the weapon used in the attack.