New Delhi: Two days after a youth fired a pistol at a group of anti-CAA protesters near the Jamia University, another man on Saturday fired two rounds in the air at Shaheen Bagh, the epicentre of the protest against the country’s new citizenship law, and was later taken into custody.
No one was injured in the incident that came even as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during a poll rally in Delhi’s northwest Rohini area alleged that those who support terrorists in Kashmir are staging protest at Shaheen Bagh.
The man, who identified himself as Kapil Gujjar, chanted ‘Jai Shree Ram’ and said, “Hamare desh me aur kisi ki nahi chalegi, sirf Hindu ki chalegi (only Hindus shall have a say in our country, no one else),” as he was taken into custody by the Delhi Police.
“The accused fired in air near police barricades. He was overpowered by police personnel and taken into custody. Further investigation is on,” Chinmoy Biswal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast) said.
The police said they are verifying his identity. According to eyewitnesses, the man shouted ‘Hindu Rashtra Zindabad’ and fired two rounds. The incident, which comes days after a local contractor armed with a gun had come to the site and asked the people to end the protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act, has triggered panic in the area.
A woman protester, who did not wish to be named, said the incident has created panic among them as well as children.
“Many women and children were inside the tent when the incident occurred. We rushed to the spot after hearing a gunshot. Everyone is scared. But we won’t leave the spot,” she said.
Notwithstanding the unnerving incident, many people thronged the protest site to express solidarity with the protestors. Many of them sung the national anthem while others offered namaz there. The protesters also raised slogans against the Delhi Police.
Abu Ala Suhani, a publisher and resident of Shaheen Bagh said, “The man appeared to be in his 20s and fired two rounds. While he was being taken into custody, we heard a policeman asking him his name. The man said his name was Kapil Gujjar and he belongs to Dallupura village in Uttar Pradesh.”
On Thursday, the youth had fired on anti-CAA protesters at Jamia Millia Islamia injuring a student in the presence of police personnel, triggering massive protest by the Jamia students against the police inaction.
Hundreds of people have been protesting since December 15 at Shaheen Bagh, which has attracted attention across the country among those opposing the CAA, but at the same time the agitation has been severely criticised by others, including the BJP Union ministers and leaders.
Hitting out at the AAP dispensation, Adityanath said the AAP government “supplies biryani” to protesters at Shaheen Bagh.
Addressing another poll rally at Karawal Nagar Chowk in east Delhi, the BJP leader lashed out at the anti-CAA protesters, saying “their ancestors divided India, so they have a grouse against this emerging Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat.”
“These protests happening at various places in Delhi are not about the CAA, but it is happening because those people are questioning as to how can India emerge as a major power in the world, and to stop that rising India,” he claimed.
BJP leaders have been urging people to vote for the party in Delhi assembly polls on February eight to show their disapproval for the ongoing anti-CAA protest at Shaheen Bagh.
Reacting to the incident, AAP leader Sanjay Singh said they had already warned the Election Commission that a conspiracy is being hatched by the BJP to postpone the polls.
“There is no law and order in the country. The gun-toting men are not making Delhi their bastion. We have been seeking time from the Election Commission since Friday so that we can make them aware of these developments but they have not given us any time,” he said. (PTI)
