Umar Khalid: ‘I thought my moment had come after Gauri Lankesh’

Soon after escaping a bid on his life in high-security zone at Constitution Club near Parliament House, JNU student leader Umar Khalid said that those who have been questioning the policies of the Modi government are being branded “anti-national” so that they can be attacked easily.

“What has happened in the past two years is that there has been a continuous hateful propaganda by certain media houses and online troll armies of the ruling party. Anyone who opposes or even questions the policies of the current government, they are branded anti-national and then anything can be done to them,” he remarked.

Speaking to media after the incident, he recalled: “A person approached me with a gun and tried to shoot me. Thankfully, my friends were there who tried to overpower him and the assailant ran away. Then he opened fire from across the road.”

He added: “I was very scared when he pointed gun at me. In that moment I was reminded of what happened to Gauri Lankesh. I thought my moment has arrived.”

Deputy Commissioner of Police Madhur Verma quoted Khalid as saying that he was attacked and that somebody pounced on him and pushed him. "Thereafter he tried to fire at Khalid. But the person couldn't fire immediately," Verma said. "People started chasing him. Thereafter, according to Khalid, the attacker fired in the air."

Khalid was reportedly standing at a tea stall with his friend when the attack took place around 2.30 pm. He had gone to the Constitution Club to attend a “United Against Hate” programme.

“I had come here to tell the government that we want freedom from fear. There are many people who have lost their family members to mob violence or they have been murdered,” said Khalid after he was allegedly shot at by an unidentified man.

Police have seized the weapon that was dropped by the accused while fleeing. Police said CCTV cameras were being scrutinised to identify the attackers.

Seeking police protection, Khalid had earlier filed a complaint with the police, claiming death threats from gangster Ravi Pujari.

With IANS inputs