Delhi Police Special Cell to probe attack on JNU ex-student Umar Khalid

The attack on Jawarharlal Nehru University PhD scholar Umar Khalid on Tuesday was transferred to the Delhi Police Special Cell.

Till now the case was being handled by the district police. Incidentally, the Special Cell is also probing a sedition case against Khalid and two other students.

The incident occurred  on Tuesday around 2:30 pm at Constitutional Club area when Khalid had come to attend the programme named “Khauf se Azadi” (Freedom from Fear), organised by United Against Hate.

“The police had seized the weapon and preliminary forensic examination suggested that the pistol had jammed. It is yet to ascertain whether shots were fired as no empty cartridges were found on the spot,” said a police official.

The attacker had dropped the weapon and fled the spot, police said. As confusion persisted over what had actually happened and how many people were involved Joint Commissioner New Delhi range said that Khalid had said that somebody pounced on him and tried to fire at him but the person could immediately not fire. “According to Khalid, he tried to fire in the air and fled from the spot. We are examining the CCTV footage to verify the incident,” said Joint Commissioner of Police, New Delhi range, Ajay Chaudhary.

“We have identified a man through CCTV footage and have registered a case of attempt to murder,” said police official.