Shots fired at AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi’s vehicle in UP, he turns down Z-category cover and says ‘book assailants under UAPA’
The government had decided to provide him with Z category security by the CRPF after reviewing the threat level in the light of last night's attack.
Lok Sabha MP and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday alleged that at least 3-4 rounds of bullets were fired upon his vehicle near Chhajarsi toll plaza on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway.
The AIMIM chief said he was heading to Delhi after an election-related event at Kithaur in UP’s Meerut.
The government decided to provide him with Z category security by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) after reviewing the threat level in the light of last night’s attack.
Two people have been arrested for firing at his convoy at Meerut’s Kithoudh area, police said.
One of the accused is Sachin, a resident of Noida who has an earlier attempt to murder case against him. While he has claimed that he holds a law degree, police are verifying it.
The other accused is Shubham, a farmer from Saharanpur who does not have a criminal record.
Later in the evening today, speaking in Lok Sabha, Owaisi said he did not want the Z-category security cover and would prefer to be an “A-category citizen”.
“I don’t want Z category security. I want to be an A-Category citizen, at par with you all. Why was UAPA not invoked against those who fired at me?” he said, referring to the tough anti-terror law that has been extensively used in recent times by BJP-led state governments and the centre, and according to critics, disproportionately against Muslims.
“I want to live, to speak. My life will be safe when the poor are safe. I will not get scared of those who shot at my car,” he said in parliament.
Deepak Bhuker, Superintendent of Police, Hapur said the accused had opened fire on Mr. Owaisi’s convoy as they were allegedly ‘hurt’ by his ‘anti-Hindu’ statements.
