INLD MLA Bharat Singh was shot at Saturday morning in south-west Delhi by “four-five” unknown attackers with police suspecting it to be a case of personal rivalry.
A passerby was also injured in the incident which took place near the MLA’s office in Najafgarh’s Sarangpur village at around 8:30 AM, a senior police official said.
According to the official, four to five people came and opened fire at Singh, the 35-year-old MLA from Najafgarh, who suffered a bullet injury.
A villager who was passing through the area also, was caught in the firing and got injured. Both were rushed to the hospital and are undergoing treatment.
“We are investigating the matter. No arrests have been made,” the official said.
Singh is the brother of MCD councillor Krishan Pahalwan against whom there are several criminal cases.
Describing the murder attempt on an MLA as a “matter of great concern”, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Saturday said such incidents should not happen and asked the City Police Commissioner to enhance security of the legislators.
Dikshit’s remarks came after a meeting she had with Delhi Police Commissioner B K Gupta to discuss the security scenario in the capital in the wake of MLA Bharat Singh being shot at by unidentified assailants and demands from Congress legislators for enhanced personal security.
The meeting was held on the direction of Speaker Yoganand Shastri after MLAs on Friday demanded police protection citing increased “threat perception” while having to deal with difficult situations in public interest.
“It is a matter of great concern that an MLA has been attacked. We have to take precaution. The MLAs have raised the issue of threats to them yesterday and today this incident has happened. Security should be enhanced,” Dikshit said, adding these types of incidents should not happen.
She said the Police Commissioner had told her that Personal Security Officers (PSOs) have been provided to a number of MLAs who have raised security concerns.
The issues regarding security of MLAs will be discussed on Tuesday, she said.
Gupta said Special Cell and Crime Branch have been roped in the investigations into the murderous attempt on Singh and the best of the investigators have been assigned the job.
“I have informed the Chief Minister that any MLA having apprehension about security or facing threats will be given police protection,” Gupta said.