New Delhi, Feb 1: An extremist today fired shots at anti-CAA protesters at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi, just three days after another extremist fired at protesters at nearby Jamia Millia University. This is the second daylight shooting in which the police caught the man only after the shots were fired.
The man, apparently a fan of BJP leaders including Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, shouted "Jai Sri Ram" as he fired shots standing near police barricades put up at the south Delhi locality where hundreds of women and children have sat on the road in protest for more than a month. He was caught by the police. No one was injured.
The shooter was also heard saying: "Humare desh mein sirf Hinduon ki chalegi aur kisi ki nahi (in our country only Hindus will prevail)." He had allegedly come to the area in an auto.
A witness said the man fired two-three times, standing right next to the police, not at the spot of the protest but close enough to a large crowd of unarmed men, women and children.
"We suddenly heard gunshots. This person was shouting Jai Shri Ram. He had a semi-automatic pistol and he fired two rounds. The police were standing just behind him," said the witness, a volunteer at the protest.
"When his gun jammed, he ran. He tried to fire again, then tossed the gun into the bushes and tried to escape. Some of us and the police caught him, the police dragged him away," he added. Protesters questioned whether the police were more focused on keeping an eye on them rather than tackling crimes like this.
Police officer Chinmay Biswal said the man had fired shots in the air. "The man had resorted to aerial firing. Police immediately overpowered and caught him," he said.
This incident - the second shooting in Delhi at an anti-CAA protest -- has chilling similarities to the one that took place just two km away at Jamia university on Thursday, when a 17-year-old Class 12 boy from Uttar Pradesh fired a crude pistol at unarmed protesters with dozens of policemen behind him, watching. The teen, who left home claiming he was going to school, took a bus to Delhi intending to target Shaheen Bagh but landed at Jamia next-door after an auto-driver dropped him off there to avoid the traffic chaos.
The shootings have taken place in quick succession after controversial slogans of "Goli Maaro Sa***n Ko (shoot the traitors)" were chanted on Monday at a Delhi campaign rally of Anurag Thakur, the Union Minister of State for Finance, who was part of the team involved in Budget 2020 announced today.
Mr Thakur was banned from campaigning in Delhi for three days for egging on BJP workers to shout the "Goli Maaro" slogan.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal slammed Home Minister Amit Shah, to whose ministry the Delhi Police reports to, over the two shooting incidents. "What have you done to our Delhi, Amit Shah ji? Bullets are being fired in broad daylight... Law and order is being criticised constantly. Elections will come and go, politics will keep happening, but for the sake of the people of Delhi, please focus on fixing law and order," he tweeted.
The Shaheen Bagh protest has attracted attention from across the country in the protests against the CAA or the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which makes religion a criterion for citizenship. Critics say the law discriminates against Muslims as only non-Muslims from neighbouring Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh can become Indian citizens if they fled religious persecution and entered India before 2015.
Of late, critics of the Shaheen Bagh protests, mainly pro-CAA activists, have attacked the month-long sit-in on a key road in Delhi connecting to Noida. They say the protest has become a traffic nightmare for commuters.
The police have identified the deceased as Sanat Kumar, 35, who was running a small finance firm besides being the president of Haleyangadi unit of the HJV.
Comments
Must be somebody from the HJV killed him to make it look like suicide. are the police investigating. All unnatural deaths should be properly checked.
Brother Manish #1
You have Mistaken What is the use of Organisation when Almighty Allah is not with them.
Learn Islam before its too late.
Naren and viren are busy with preparing CD/video to misuse this situation to frame some innocent people and trap them with Gooswami.
Our nationalist peddu naren is commenting on other news but he is not here with his brother? thats so sad when someone needs condolence he is not here... thats a shame for him and his HJV or HIV
Hi.. your goggles are super!!! how much u paid? now who using them?
Sad to know that there are people who celebrate the untimely death of a youth. #RIP humanity.
RIP, Any way great job, this is the lesson for youth of bajarangi what happens if cancer is in your mind
Entire organisation would be with you if you attacked Muslims or Christians. I bet if you consulted minorities regarding your problem you would be alive today.. RIP.. We know one to blame but what HJV are doing with minorities entire country knows.. And don't forget Manish... God is above any organisation..
And this kind of people lead organizations.....come on.....bhudhanaazhcha ka nahee to kyaa public ka
Feenari........
Madidunno maraya!!
I don't agree with Manish's comments
Had your entire organisation was with him this wouldn't have happened
All such org only uses such youths and make public bakra
RIP brother. You took a wrong step when entire organisation was with you.
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