The Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday registered a first information report (FIR) and took into custody three suspects for interrogation in connection with an attack on Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad, who was shot at Saharanpur a day earlier, police said.
The three suspects, police said, were taken into custody after the vehicle used by the attackers were recovered on Wednesday, police officers aware of the developments said.
Azad was travelling in an SUV when unidentified assailants opened fire on his car at Gandhi Colony in Deoband. Azad, who also heads the Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshiram), sustained injuries and was rushed to a hospital where his condition is stable, police said.
“A case of attempt to murder under section 307 of Indian Penal Code and under relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, has been registered at Deoband police station on the basis of Aazad Samaj Party activist Manish, who was driving Azad’s vehicle at the time of the incident,” Meerut additional director general of police (ADGP) Rajeev Sabharwal said.
According to the complaint, four assailants arrived in a vehicle and opened fire at Azad’s SUV at around 5pm on Wednesday. A bullet grazed his abdomen, Saharanpur (city) superintendent of police Abimanyu Manglik said earlier.
{{/usCountry}}According to the complaint, four assailants arrived in a vehicle and opened fire at Azad’s SUV at around 5pm on Wednesday. A bullet grazed his abdomen, Saharanpur (city) superintendent of police Abimanyu Manglik said earlier.
{{/usCountry}}Police said there were six vehicles in Azad’s motorcade but only his SUV was damaged.
According to a senior police officer privy to the development, the attackers’ vehicle was found abandoned outside a house in Miragpur village, nearly 7km from the firing spot. The officer said that a man belonging to the house alerted police about the unknown vehicle.
“The car bore a Haryana registration number and was found to be registered in the name of a Chandigarh resident. Three suspects were taken into custody on the basis of information provided by the man (belonging to the house),” the officer said, seeking anonymity.
“The man said that the three suspects studied with him in the same college and alleged that they intentionally parked the vehicle outside his house to frame him in the case,” the officer added.
A second officer said the vehicle was stolen from Chandigarh a few days ago and a complaint was filed by the owner. The officer added that police are trying to recreate the crime scene to solve the case.