Deoband— In a shocking incident, Chandrashekhar Azad, the President of Azad Samaj Party, fell victim to an audacious assault as unidentified assailants opened fire on his convoy in the town of Deoband, Saharanpur on Wednesday evening. This brazen attack left Chandrashekhar injured, prompting his immediate admission to a local hospital for medical treatment. The assault took place when Chandrashekhar had arrived in Deoband, driving his Fortuner car. Suddenly, the assailants, whose identities remain unknown, fired upon his vehicle, resulting in a bullet grazing Chandrashekhar and inflicting an injury. The car itself bears clear evidence of the bullet's impact.

Swiftly responding to the distress call, law enforcement swiftly arrived at the scene and commenced an investigation into the matter. Preliminary reports indicate that the attackers were traveling in a vehicle bearing a Haryana license plate, from which they launched their assault on Chandrashekhar Azad. Luckily, the bullet merely grazed his back, and his condition is currently stable. Moreover, the firing also resulted in damage to the car's windows. Authorities have promptly initiated a search operation, erecting roadblocks in an effort to locate the attackers. Additionally, CCTV footage from the surrounding areas is being carefully examined to facilitate the identification of the assailants.

Evidently, Chandrashekhar was returning home from Delhi when the attack unfolded in Deoband. As per available information, the assailants, tailing his car in a vehicle bearing a Haryana license plate, unleashed a rapid barrage of gunfire on his vehicle, firing a total of four rounds.

Speaking to The Mooknayak, Dr. Vipin Tada, the Senior Superintendent of Police, said "A group of armed individuals in a car fired upon Chandrashekhar Azad's convoy. Fortunately, one bullet struck him and ricocheted off, leaving him unharmed. He is currently in stable condition and is expected to be discharged soon. The police are actively investigating the incident."

Meanwhile Chandrashekhar told the officials that he couldn't remember what had happened. "Although I cannot recall, my associates have identified the assailant. He sped off towards Saharanpur. We swiftly executed a U-turn. Our vehicle was solitary, carrying a total of five individuals. It is possible that our accompanying doctor was also targeted by gunfire," Azad recounted.

Bahujan Leaders Rally Against the Cowardly Attack, Vow Unyielding Defense of Ambedkar's Ideology

In the wake of the heinous incident targeting Chandrashekhar Azad, social media platforms have become inundated with an outpouring of condemnation from prominent Bahujan leaders.

Former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav strongly condemned the incident, calling it a cowardly attack on Chandrashekhar Azad. He said , " The murderous attack on Chandrashekhar by criminals protected by power is highly condemnable and cowardly act. When the people's representatives are not safe in the BJP rule, then what will happen to the general public? Jungle Raj in UP!"

Rajendrapal Gautam, Former Minister, Government of Delhi tweeted, "You can kill Rajendra Pal Gautam and Chandrashekhar Azad, but you cannot kill Ambedkar's ideology! If you kill one of us, millions will be born! Who all will you kill? "

Shivpal Yadav, Leader- Samajwadi Party said in a tweet , "The deadly attack on Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar is an alarm for the hollow law and order situation in the state. Government, Wake up !! "

"Speaking up for Dalits, the exploited, deprived, and minorities is an immensely challenging endeavor in our nation. Today, Chandrashekhar Azad narrowly evaded an attack. Every courageous voice advocating for the oppressed in this country faces peril, but we refuse to succumb to fear," affirmed Dr. Meraj Hussain, emphasizing the arduous nature of advocating for marginalized communities and expressing unwavering determination in the face of adversity.