NEW DELHI : In execution style, a Sangh Parivar man fired his gun point blank, at students of Jamia Milia Islamia University, injuring one. The incident took place in Delhi on the 72th Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s martyrdom outside the varsity gate.
The man, Gopal Sharma, who announced himself as “Ram Bhakt”(Devotee of Ram) showed up at students’ march to Gandhi memorial and pulled the trigger. Scores of police and security personnel at the scene simply looked over. The student who sustained bullet wound was identified as Shadab Farooq from varsity’s Mass Communication.
Gopal, a member of Bajrang Dal, had chanted “Jai Sri Ram” as he rushed towards the students with his gun. Interestingly, prior to the incident, the assailant wrote on his Facebook page that he would be gone to carry out a “big attack”.
Yesterday at noon, the Jamia students were set to march to Rajghat where Janaaikth Adhikar Aandolan had organized human chain in protest of the Citizenship Amendment Act(CA). Around 1 pm Gopal arrived in front of the campus; With his gun pointed at the students, he let out a full-throated intimidation : Who wants independence ?, he asked. He then began coaxing the students during which he suddenly fired a shot. The cops merely watched the whole sequence after which, Gopal made a dash towards them shouting “Victory to Delhi Police” giving himself in.
Shadab, who sustained injury to his left arm was transported to AIIMS, steering through the police barricades meant to stop marchers. Following he shootout, hundreds of students held protest demonstration, displacing police barricades at the site.
Fearing escalation, the authorities locked down Jama Masjid, ITO, Delhi Gate and metro stations. Though Gopal was nabbed at noon from the shootout site on Thursday, there was no case charged against well into the night.
