Nagpur Mayor Shot at by Bike-Borne Assailants, Escapes Narrowly

Police says this might be in connection with encroachment in the city, he said.

Sandip Joshi, mayor of Maharashtra’s Nagpur.

(Photo: ANI)

Sandip Joshi, mayor of Maharashtra’s Nagpur, narrowly escaped an attack by two bike-borne assailants, local police said on Wednesday, 18 December.

The assailants fired three bullets at Joshi’s car on Wardha Road at around 11:59 pm on Tuesday and fled. He was returning home with his family and friends after celebrating his 24th wedding anniversary at a restaurant, a police official told PTI.

“The bullets pierced through two glass windows and the rear windshield of the car, but Joshi was not hurt. He immediately stopped the car on the spot and alerted the police.”

Unidentified police official

One bullet hit the driver's window of the SUV that the mayor was driving, another pierced through the passenger window behind the driver's seat and the third hit the rear windshield of the car, he said.

Personnel from the Beltarodi police station rushed to the spot and began an investigation. They examined CCTV footage to determine the registration number of the motorcycle used by the attackers.

"Both the accused were wearing helmets and the pillion rider fired at the mayor's vehicle," the official said.

“I had received threats earlier. Police says this might be in connection with encroachment in the city,” the mayor told ANI.

Earlier this month, Joshi received two letters in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s complaint boxes, threatening him with dire consequences over the removal of encroachments in the city, the official said.

His official vehicle was also stolen from his residence last month but found within a day.

A case was registered under Indian Penal Code Sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 34 (common intention) and provisions of the Arms Act, PTI reported.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)