Police does U-turn on ‘staged’ claim, say attack on Shiv Sena leader may have been ‘real’

Shiv Sena leader Amit Arora (left) and his aide in police custody in Ludhiana last year. (Express Archive)

Back tracking on its earlier claim that Shiv Sena leader Amit Arora had ‘orchestrated’ an attack on himself, the Ludhiana police said they now suspect that the alleged attack on the leader in February 2016 may have been ‘real’. Ludhiana police had arrested Arora in June last year for ‘orchestrating’ attack on himself. Arora had claimed that a bullet had grazed his neck on February 4 and two motorcycle-borne men had opened fire at him.

But later, Ludhiana police claimed that forensic probe did not prove the attack. As per police, Arora had injured himself with a piece of sariya (iron) and was arrested. He was booked for cheating, furnishing false information and cheating. Police had claimed that he orchestrated the attack to get security, escort vehicle and gunmen.

On Friday, an official release from the administration of the press meeting addressed by DGP Suresh Arora said that the attack on the Shiv Sena leader was part of the serial killings of Hindu leaders by ISI-backed gang, but the shooters failed to kill Arora.

The release reads, “With these arrests, apart from the killing of seven leaders, the police have also unraveled the mystery behind the two attacks on RSS Shakhas and firing on Arora, a Ludhiana-based Hindu leader.”

Ludhiana DCP Dhruman Nimbale confirmed that ‘it has been found during interrogation that one of the shooters Ramandeep alias Raman Canadian opened fire at Arora.’ “Ramandeep had opened fire at Arora as per his interrogation but they could not kill him,” said the DCP.

When asked how Ludhiana police’s probe dismissed the claims earlier and arrested Arora, the DCP said, “We are still investigating this case, but Arora had twisted some facts. The location where he claimed he was fired upon was not correct. So, forensic probe could not prove his claims. But shooter Ramandeep claimed he had opened fire at Arora.”