Anti-CAA Protests: Second incident of firing at Jamia Millia Islamia University

In the wake of two incidents of firing against anti-CAA protesters in Delhi, this is the third such incident that took place around the Shaheen Bagh-Jamia area

Two two-wheeler-borne unknown men opened fire outside Jamia Millia Islamia in the third incident of firing arms in the locality, including Shaheen Bagh, witnessing anti-CAA protests, prompting Opposition parties to link the incidents to the "provocative" remarks by "ministers and leaders of BJP".

No one was injured in the incident that took place late Sunday night even as Delhi Police registered a case against unidentified men.

Earlier on Sunday, the Election Commission had shunted out South-East Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police Chinmoy Biswal citing the "ongoing situation" in the area that saw two incidents of firing at anti-CAA protest sites in Jamia Nagar and Shaheen Bagh last week.

The Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC) said in a statement that the attackers were on a red scooter. Police has registered a case of attempt to murder and relevant sections under the Arms Act in connection with the incident.

On Thursday, a boy opened fire at a group of anti-CAA students from Jamia Millia University marching towards Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, chanting "yeh loh azaadi" (here's your freedom) injuring one student while on Saturday a youth opened fire near a protest site in Shaheen Bagh, where women are leading the agitation, but no one was wounded. Earlier, a local contractor armed with a gun had come to Shaheen Bagh protest site and asked the people to end the protest.

Reacting to the incident, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said, repeated firings are an "ominous and direct outcome" of continued silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as ministers and BJP leaders incite violence.

"That one incident happens after another point to complicity. Peaceful protesters are demonised while those instigating and initiating violence go scot-free. When govt ministers provoke violence or thuggery, then no one is safe...Dissent is democracy. It cannot be met with hate-speech by those in high offices. Law and order in the national capital come under the Centre. Responsibility and accountability for repeated provocative violent incidents falls directly and solely on the Union Home Minister and the Prime Minister," he said.

RJD's senior Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha said, "continued firing at Shaheen Bagh (and) Jamia Millia Islamia should be treated as a dangerous stage we have reached in our history. When the important voices from the regime provide 'dog-whistle' messages, there are willing executioners. All this just for an election. Shame."