A senior TV journalist was shot at by unidentified assailants outside his house in Kavi Nagar area of Ghaziabad district on Sunday evening. Prima facie, the police suspect personal enmity to be behind the attack.
The journalist sustained three bullet injuries but his condition is stated to be stable.
According to the police, Anuj Chaudhary, who works with the Sahara Samay Hindi news channel, was standing at the entrance of his house, when four-five unidentified persons riding two-wheelers attacked him.
“The incident took place around 7 p.m, when criminals opened fire at Chaudhary. They fired six shots at him and fled the spot,” said Vaibhav Krishna, Senior Superintendent of Police, Ghaziabad.
The police said he was rushed to the Yashoda Hospital in the city. Hospital officials said one bullet hit him in the abdomen, while two hit him in the right arm. He had a surgery after which his condition stabilised.
Family members had already informed the Kavi Nagar SHO that ₹10 lakh had been paid to sharpshooters to eliminate Mr. Chaudhary, whose wife Nishi is a local BJP councillor.
“The criminals still managed to go through with their plan. We had informed the SHO about the threat. Our neighbours had been after Anuj's life. We have given a complaint against the suspected persons,” said Deepak Tomar, brother-in-law of Mr. Chaudhary.
According to the police, the journalist was provided with an armed guard after his complaint but he was given a holiday by the family as it was a Sunday.
“We have registered an FIR and are collecting CCTV footage. Four teams have been formed to arrest the accused,” said Superintendent of Police Akash Tomar.
