By Abdul Bari Masoud
Ghaziabad: The head of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi was allegedly shot at near Hapur while returning to Delhi after attending election-related events in western Uttar Pradesh.When the incident occurred at around 6 p.m., Owaisi’s vehicle was near the Chhijarsi toll plaza on the Hapur-Ghaziabad stretch of National Highway 24, he said. According to him, no one was hurt in the incident. The Hapur Police said, one person engaged in the shooting has been apprehended, and the case is being investigated by numerous teams.
My car was shot at near the Chhijarsi toll gate a while ago. Shots were fired four times. There were 3-4 persons, and they all fled, leaving the weapons behind. My car was punctured, so I shifted to another vehicle and drove away. We’re all fine. Owaisi tweeted in Hindi, “Alhamdu’lilah.”
He claimed he left Delhi early in the morning for election-related events in Meerut and Kithore, where he led a 3.30 p.m. foot march. According to Owaisi, his convoy consisted of four cars.
We were approaching the toll gate and had slowed down when we heard three to four gunshots. My automobile was also dented, and one of my tyres was damaged, he subsequently informed reporters.
“I strongly encourage the Election Commission to conduct an independent investigation into the situation. It is necessary to determine who is responsible for this tragedy. He went on to say that it was also an appeal to the Modi and Yogi governments”.
Deepak Bhuker, the Superintendent of Police in Hapur, said one of the suspects engaged in the incident has been apprehended, and police are working to confirm the identities of the others and their motives.
We were at the toll gate and had slowed down when we suddenly heard three-to-four rounds of gunshots. My car also got some dents and a tyre got punctured, he later told reporters.
The officer stated that the investigation was still in the early stages and that further information will be released when it becomes available.
Meanwhile, senior district authorities, including those from the administration and the police, arrived at the scene of the shooting, where several AIMIM activists and sympathisers had begun congregating following the shootout.