Unidentified Assailants Shoot Bhim Army Chief Chandra Shekhar Azad in Saharanpur

Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Azad was shot at by unidentified persons in Deoband area in Saharanpur on Wednesday afternoon.

According to reports, the assailants came in a vehicle that has a Haryana registration number.

Chandra Shekhar has been admitted to a hospital and his condition is said to be stable. The bullets hit him in the stomach and waist but the injuries are said to be superficial.

The state government has directed the Saharanpur Police chief to investigate the matter.

Chandra Shekhar, an ardent follower of Kanshi Ram, founded the Bhim Army in 2015. The group emerged as a response to discrimination and caste-based violence faced by Dalit students at AHP Inter-college in Uttar Pradesh.

Chandra Shekhar rose to prominence after publicly asserting Dalit identity, intervening in caste conflicts, and safeguarding Dalit interests.


The Bhim Army earned national attention following clashes in Uttar Pradesh, leading to Chandra Shekhar's arrest in June 2017 by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force. Despite being granted bail in November 2017, he was detained under the National Security Act until his acquittal in September 2018.

The Bhim Army held nationwide protests in August 2019 against the demolition of Shri Guru Ravidas Gurughar, leading to the arrest of several members, including Azad.

In December 2019, Chandra Shekhar announced the Bhim Army's formal entry into electoral politics, launching the Azad Samaj Party in March 2020. The party staunchly opposes the BJP's Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA), and has actively engaged in protests seeking its repeal. - IANS with TWL Bureau inputs