NEW DELHI, June 2: INLD MLA Bharat Singh was shot at this morning in south-west Delhi by unknown assailants with police suspecting it to be a case of personal rivalry.
Shortly after the incident, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit asked the Police Commissioner to enhance security of legislators.
Singh was chased and shot at inside his office in Najafgarh’s Sarangpur village at around 8:30 AM by the attackers who were waiting for him. Dharampal, who is said to be Singh’s uncle, also suffered bullet injuries.
Singh is the brother of MCD councillor Krishan Pahalwan against whom there are several criminal cases.
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. Both Singh and Dharampal were rushed to Mata Chanan Devi Hospital.
Police sources said Singh had suffered two-three bullet injuries and he is being operated upon.
Singh used to come to the office in the morning and hold discussions with his close aides before heading out for other works.
An eye-witness said, “He got down near his office. Around 7-8 persons greeted him and then they opened fire. He ran inside. They followed him inside and shot at him. His uncle Dharampal also got injured.”
Reacting to the incident after a meeting with Police Commissioner B K Gupta, Dikshit said the murder attempt on an MLA as a “matter of great concern” and such incidents should not happen. She asked the City Police Commissioner to enhance security of the legislators.
INLD President President and former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala alleged that lawlessness was growing in Congress-ruled States and the attack on the party’s Delhi unit chief, Bharat Singh, was another “example of this”.
Delhi Leader of Opposition V K Malhotra alleged that the capital was becoming a crime capital. “Singh is a powerful person in his area. If somebody comes in his area and shoots him, it shows that the crime scene in the capital has deteriorated,” he said.
Dikshit’s remarks came after a meeting she had with the Police Commissioner to discuss the security scenario in the capital in the wake of the MLA being shot at and demands from Congress legislators for enhanced personal security.
The meeting was held on the direction of Speaker Yoganand Shastri after MLAs yesterday 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 type 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 with regard to MLAs will be discussed on Tuesday, she said.
Gupta said Special Cell and Crime Branch have been roped in investigations of the murderous attempt on Singh and 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. (PTI)
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