Attack Was Planned, Some People Want To Stifle My Voice: Chandra Shekhar Aazad After Being Discharged

Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad has said that the attack on him on June 28 was planned and the incident showed the poor law & order situation in the country.

Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad was injured when unidentified assailants opened fire on his car in Deoband.

Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad on Thursday said that the attack on him a day ago was planned. Citing the attack, he sought to highlight Uttar Pradesh's "poor law & order" situation. He said the attack was carried out by people who wanted to silence him. "Some people want to stifle my voice. But I am a lawyer. I will fight my war constitutionally. I hope the police will take genuine action and arrest those involved [in the firing incident]," Aazad said after being discharged.

"The attack was planned. It seems that the attackers wanted to surrender after killing me. The incident shows law and order situation of Uttar Pradesh," Azad added. The Bhim Army chief was injured when unidentified assailants opened fire on his car in Deoband. A bullet brushed past Azad's waist and he was rushed to the government hospital for treatment. 

Doctors said his condition is stable. "I did not expect such a sudden attack. I want to appeal to my friends, supporters and workers across the country to maintain peace. We will continue our fight Constitutionally...I am fine with the love and blessings of crores of people," Azad said from his hospital bed on Wednesday. "I won't die anytime soon. I will fulfil the dream of my idol Babasaheb Ambedkar," he said

Chandra Shekhar Azad was present in Deoband to attend a 'terhavi' ritual at the home of one of his supporters. The attack took place when Azad was leaving the location in his SUV.

Following the incident, a large number of supporters from the Bhim Army and Azad Samaj Party gathered at the hospital, and additional security personnel were deployed. The Bhim Army has demanded the immediate arrest of the culprits and strict action against them.

Preliminary investigations suggest that four shots were fired at Azad's vehicle. "The assailants are believed to be a group of four or five individuals," stated Senior Superintendent of Police of Saharanpur, Vipin Tada, in a statement to PTI.

The assailants were using a vehicle with a registration number from Haryana. "The district borders have been sealed, and a large-scale operation to apprehend the assailants and locate their vehicle has been launched," confirmed Superintendent of Police (City) Abimanyu Manglik, as quoted by PTI.

Former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav, drew a parallel between the state's law and order situation and "jungle raj" (lawlessness).

"When even the safety of elected representatives is compromised under BJP rule, what can be expected for the general public?" questioned the leader of the Samajwadi Party.

(With PTI inputs.)