AAP MLA wasn't target, say Delhi cops; one detained for attack

The Delhi police filed an FIR and arrested one person on Wednesday (February 12) after unidentified men on Tuesday (February 11) night opened fire on the convoy of its MLA-elect Naresh Yadav in Kishangarh village.

However, they have ruled out the possibility that the shooter aimed to attack AAP MLA Naresh Yadav.

“The investigation so far reveals that there was one assailant. Naresh Yadav wasn’t the target. The assailant had specifically come to target the man who was shot dead (AAP volunteer),” said Southwest Additional DCP Ingit Pratap Singh.

“The incident appears to be a case of personal enmity,” police added.

Unidentified assailants opened fire at a convoy in which Yadav was travelling on Tuesday night when he was returning from a temple. One of the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP’s) volunteers was killed in the attack. Another person injured in the incident was admitted to a hospital.

In a tweet, the AAP said, “Shots fired at AAP MLA Naresh Yadav and the volunteers accompanying him while they were on their way back from the temple. At least one volunteer has passed away due to bullet wounds. Another is injured. Volunteer Ashok Mann has passed away in the attack at AAP MLA Naresh Yadav. Today we have lost one of our family members. May his soul rest in peace.

Shots fired at AAP MLA@MLA_NareshYadav
and the volunteers accompanying him while they were on way back from temple.

At least one volunteer has passed away due to bullet wounds. Another is injured.

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 11, 2020

Speaking to news agency ANI, Yadav demanded that police should thoroughly check the CCTV footage to identify the assailants who shot at his convoy.

“The incident is really unfortunate. I do not know the reason behind the attack but it happened all of a sudden. Around 4 rounds were fired. The vehicle I was in was attacked. I am sure if Police inquires properly, they will be able to identify the assailant,” Naresh Yadav was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Yadav added that he could have been killed.

“Two people were shot in which Ashok Man Ji has died and Harender Ji was injured. I do not know whether they attacked me in particular but they certainly targeted our convoy. Anybody could have been shot in this attack including me,” he added.

Naresh Yadav, the Mehrauli MLA, defeated BJP’s Kusum Khatri with a margin of 18,161 votes.

“The brazen murder of Ashok Mann after an attack on Mehrauli MLA Naresh Yadav – this is the rule of law in Delhi, Naresh Yadav was returning from a temple,” AAP leader Sanjay Singh tweeted in Hindi.

मेहरौली विधायक नरेश यादव के क़ाफ़िले पर हमला अशोक मान की सरेआम हत्या ये है दिल्ली में क़ानून का राज, मंदिर से दर्शन करके लौट रहे थे नरेश यादव

— Sanjay Singh AAP (@SanjayAzadSln) February 11, 2020