A BJP MLA in UP, whose police security was withdrawn in May, has claimed that there was an attempt on his life on Sunday when 4–5 bike-borne men allegedly shot at him while he was travelling with three others in his SUV in Ghaziabad.
Nand Kishor Gurjar, who represents Loni, and his co-travellers — the driver, his friend and personal security guard — escaped unhurt as only a side mirror was hit in the incident that happened near Farrukhnagar in Sahibabad around 10.30 pm.
Police have lodged an FIR against unidentified men and launched an investigation, but have not found any other bullet marks on the vehicle.
The incident comes a month after Gujrar had withdrawn his security personnel provided by the police, after he alleged bribery on part of police personnel in Loni and also wrote a letter to the UP CM in this regard.
Gurjar said he was returning from a meeting at Mawana and going to his native place at Ganauli village.
“As soon as the car crossed the Hindon river bridge, I heard sounds of 3–4 gunshots from behind. I was seated on the passenger seat and one of the gunshots hit the side mirror and damaged it. I immediately asked the driver to speed up. My personal security guard seated behind fired two shots in the direction from where the initial firing had come. I had only one personal security guard and a friend besides the driver and we sped the car to nearest Farrukhnagar police post,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}“As soon as the car crossed the Hindon river bridge, I heard sounds of 3–4 gunshots from behind. I was seated on the passenger seat and one of the gunshots hit the side mirror and damaged it. I immediately asked the driver to speed up. My personal security guard seated behind fired two shots in the direction from where the initial firing had come. I had only one personal security guard and a friend besides the driver and we sped the car to nearest Farrukhnagar police post,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}The MLA said there were two bikes and possibly 4–5 men who opened fire on his SUV.
Based on his complaint, police lodged an FIR at Sahibabad police station.
“The side mirror of the SUV was damaged and there were no other bullet marks on the vehicle during initial investigation,” said Vaibhav Krishna, senior superintendent of police, Ghaziabad.
“The field unit and forensic units were also roped in. A combing operation was also taken up in the area after the incident,” he said.
UP chief minister, Yogi Adityanath is set to arrive in Ghaziabad on Monday to attend a conference of BJP MLAs and party’s western UP district presidents.
Last month, Ghaziabad police had requested the MLA to return the three personnel provided to him in addition to the two already provided to him.
But the MLA responded that he never asked for any additional security and surrendered all his security personnel. He has been relying on his personal security guards since then.