Wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik on Thursday met Dalit leader and Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad at a hospital in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh after the latter was injured when unidentified assailants opened fire on his car in Deoband the previous day. Hailing Aazad as a person who stands for the truth, Punia said that the wrestlers condemn the attack on him. He further appealed for peace while urging the police to nab the culprits. On Wednesday, assailants fired four shots at Azad's SUV at around 5 pm near Union Circle under the Deoband Police station area.
"We condemn the attack on him. It is wrong that people like him who stand for the truth are being attacked. I appeal to the people to maintain peace and also appeal to the police to arrest the culprits," Bajrang Punia told news agency ANI.
According to the police, Aazad (36) had gone to attend a 'terhavin' ritual at a supporter's home in Saharanpur district's Deoband and the assailants fired four shots at his SUV when he was leaving, news agency PTI reported.
Police received a phone call about the incident and a police team rushed to the spot.
The police team and his supporters took the injured to the nearby Community Centre from where he was referred to the district hospital, Senior Superintendent of Police of Saharanpur Vipin Tada said, as per PTI.
The crime scene was examined by a forensic team.
As per preliminary findings, four shots were fired at Aazad's vehicle. The assailants are said to be four or five in number, said the Superintendent of Police (SP), adding no complaint has been received.
Superintendent of Police (City) Abimanyu Manglik informed that the assailants were in a car and opened fire on Azad's SUV from the right side, PTI reported. A bullet grazed his abdomen. He was admitted to the hospital and his condition is said to be stable.
Soon the Aazad Samaj Party chief was admitted to the district hospital his supporters from nearby areas began gathering there and demanded Z+ security for him.
Police deployed additional force near the facility to tackle any situation even as officials at the state police headquarters said Director General of Police Vijay Kumar sought a detailed report from the Saharanpur police.
The vehicle used by the assailants carried a Haryana registration number, the police said, as per PTI.
The borders of the district have been sealed and a massive operation to track the assailant and their vehicle has been launched, said Manglik, the SP city. The senior officer added the Saharanpur Police has also reached out to its counterpart in adjoining districts to seek their support in the effort to arrest the attackers.