Sudarshan News editor and Khalid's attacker: any link?

JNU student-activist Umar Khalid on Thursday tweeted a picture of his "attacker" who is seen purportedly posing with Suresh Chavhanke, the editor, managing director and chairman of 'Sudarshan News'.

The tweet has come even before the Delhi Police could make any arrests or release additional information on the suspect who attempted to open fire at Khalid outside the Constitution Club on Monday.

Khalid followed up by adding that he has no further comments.

Pictures of the attacker who was caught on CCTV cameras were released earlier and though the Delhi Police is yet to confirm if the man in the picture shared by Khalid is indeed the attacker, the men in the two pictures bear an uncanny resemblance.

Suresh Chavhanke earlier faced several criminal cases under various offences such as rape, attempted unnatural sex, fraud, attempt to murder, forced miscarriage, criminal intimidation, cheating and outraging the modesty of a woman. However, the charges could not be substantiated as per the closure report filed by the police in 2017. He has also been booked and later arrested for inciting communal hatred between the two communities in April 2017 but was released on bail after two days.

No statement disputing Khalid's assertion was issued through the twitter handle of @SudarshanNewsTV or it's editor @SureshChavhanke.

Earlier today, reports surfaced about two men who took responsibility for the attack on Khalid in a video that is being widely circulated on social media. Taking cognizance of this, a police officer from the Special Cell told the Indian Express: “If their claim found to be corroborative, they will be arrested.”

Khalid on Monday narrowly escaped when an unidentified man attempted to open fire at him outside Constitution Club, located 500 metres away from Parliament House.

The incident comes at a time the national capital is under heavy security for the Independence Day, exposing the preparedness of the security establishment ahead of the celebrations.

"There is an atmosphere of fear in the country, and anybody who speaks against the government is threatened," Khalid said soon after the incident even as condemnation poured in over the incident.