Month after he returned official security, BJP MLA claims bid on life
GHAZIABAD : A BJP MLA in UP, who had surrendered his police security in May, has claimed that there was an attempt on his life on Sunday when 4–5 bikeborne men allegedly shot at him while he was travelling with three others in his SUV in Ghaziabad.
GHAZIABAD: A BJP MLA, who had surrendered his police security in May, on Monday claimed that there was an attempt on his life on Sunday when four-five bikeborne men allegedly shot at him when he was travelling with three others in his SUV in Ghaziabad.
Nand Kishor Gurjar, who represents Loni, and his co-travellers escaped unhurt as only a side mirror was hit in the incident near Farrukhnagar in Sahibabad around 10.30pm. A complaint was forwarded at 12.58am on Monday. The co-travellers included the driver, his friend and a personal security guard.
Police have lodged an FIR against unidentified men under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code and launched an investigation, but have not found any other bullet marks on the vehicle.
Gurjar said he was returning from a meeting at Mawana, Meerut and going to his native place at Ganauli village.
“As soon as the car crossed the Hindon river bridge, I heard three-four gunshots from behind. I was seated on the passenger seat and one of the gunshots hit the side mirror and damaged it. I immediately asked the driver to speed up. My personal security guard seated behind fired two shots in the direction from where the initial firing had come. I had only one personal security guard and a
friend, besides the driver, and we sped the car to nearest Farrukhnagar police post,” he said.
The MLA said there were two bikes and possibly four–five men who opened fire on his SUV.
Vaibhav Krishna, senior superintendent of police, Ghaziabad, said: “The side mirror of the SUV was damaged and there were no other bullet marks on the vehicle during initial investigation. The SUV will be sent to a laboratory for forensic investigation. After the incident, we again offered security to the MLA but he declined.”
“The field unit and forensic units were also roped in. A combing operation was also taken up in the area after the incident,” he said.
The alleged incident came a day before UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath arrived at Ghaziabad on Monday for a meeting of BJP MPs, MLAs and district presidents of western UP.
“After the meeting, I spoke to the UP CM and he has assured to look into the issue. I will not take up security till erring sub-inspector from Loni police-post is removed. The police removed constables but no action was taken against the sub inspector,” Gurjar added.
The incident comes a month after he had withdrawn his security personnel provided by the police, alleging bribery on the part of police personnel in Loni and also wrote a letter to the UP chief minister in this regard.
Ghaziabad police said the allegations of bribery had come after they had requested the MLA to return the three personnel provided to him in addition to the two already provided to him.
But the MLA responded, saying he never asked for any additional security and surrendered all his security personnel. He has been relying on his personal security guards since then.