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Firing at Ghaziabad court, four injured
Three men dressed as advocates barged into the Ghaziabad district and sessions court on Thursday and opened fire, injuring four people. Peeyush Khandelwal reports.
Three men dressed as advocates barged into the Ghaziabad district and sessions court on Thursday and opened fire, injuring four people.
Udham Singh, an undertrial, was being taken to the first floor of the court around 11am when the incident took place.
Soon, three men Yogesh Bhadora, Sachin Teotia and Parth Pandit attacked him. While Singh was wounded in his head before making his way to a nearby room, three others were injured in the indiscriminate firing.
Bhadora, who masterminded the incident, attacked Singh over a long-standing rivalry. Two of the assailants were arrested immediately but Bhadora managed to escape.
Incident not isolated
Thursday's firing was not an isolated case. Last year, Rajesh Talwar was attacked by a man in the court complex while he was attending a hearing in connection with the murders of his daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj.
The three men who opened firing in the court complex on Thursday were carrying sophisticated weapons. The two metal detectors installed at the gates of the old court building were out of order, making the trio's entry easier.
Though a number of security guards are posted at all the entry and exit points, prime accused Bhadoria managed to give them the slip and escape from the scene of crime.
The Ghaziabad Bar Association has condemned the incident. The association president said this was a serious security breach that could have resulted in the loss of lives.
Around 7,000-8,000 people visit the court each day.
