Gunman opens fire at anti-CAA protest rally in Delhi

NEW DELHI: A gunman open fire on Thursday at a protest rally against India’s contentious citizenship law near the Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) university in New Delhi.

The alleged suspect, identified by the police as a 17-year-old teenager, brandished a single-barrel weapon and shouted slogans against the protesters before firing at them, wounding a university student,

The deputy commissioner of police in southeast Delhi said the teenage suspect has been arrested and an investigation was being conducted into the incident.

“He (the gunman) was shouting, ‘Delhi Police Zindabad’ (long live Delhi police) and ‘Who wants Azadi (freedom), come, I’ll shoot you’,” said an eyewitness who was also part of the protest.

“And then he shot one fire. A student named Shadab was hurt and has been taken to the nearby Holy Family hospital,” he added. The assailant shouted slogans against the protesters before firing at them while the police stood nearby.

Police watch as a guy waves a gun outside Jamia University. Man says “Yeh lo azaadi.” This week a minister chanted – desh ke gaddaron ko, goli Maro saalon ko. pic.twitter.com/19mfHvFcQR

— Niha Masih (@NihaMasih) January 30, 2020

A photograph taken by an international news agency showed the suspect, dressed in a black jacket and brandishing a single-barrel weapon, standing metres away from dozens of policemen deployed outside the university, where protesters had gathered for the march on the death anniversary of Gandhi.

The suspect’s Facebook account, now suspended, revealed his apparent hatred towards Muslims and his sympathies for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His social media profile suggested he is a member of the far-right Bajrang Dal.

The protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) have flared since last December. In recent days, BJP leaders have called for action against the protesters declared as “anti-nationals”.

Last month, Delhi police officers stormed the university’s library and beat several students who were protesting against citizenship law.