Dalit activist and Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad on Thursday described the attack in which he was injured as “failure of the State government”. He also charged that the U.P. government has been providing “protection to criminals on the basis of caste and religion”.
The Dalit leader was shot at by unidentified assailants in the Deoband area of Saharanpur district on Wednesday evening when he was returning from a terahvin (mourning) ritual at a supporter’s home. One bullet grazed his abdomen. He was discharged from hospital on Thursday evening after treatment.
“An incident like the one that occurred yesterday can happen to any leader of other political parties and their supporters in the future. This is because, firstly, law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh is getting worse and secondly, the government is providing protection to the criminals on the basis of caste and religion. Such elements are unrestrained. They neither fear the law nor the police,” said Mr. Azad, while expressing gratitude to leaders and well-wishers for condemning the attack.
