UP: Masked men open fire on school van, no injuries reported
Amroha (UP), Oct 25: Masked men opened fire on a private school van carrying 28 children in Uttar Pradesh's Amroha on Friday, police said.
One suspect has been taken into custody in connection with the incident in which no one was reported injured, they added.
According to the police, the incident took place under the Gajraula police station area when unidentified masked individuals fired indiscriminately at the van carrying students from the S R S International School.
"It is believed that the van driver was the target. He and the schoolchildren are all safe," Circle Officer Shwetabh Bhaskar said.
An FIR has been lodged at the Gajraula police station against three suspects, one of whom has been taken into custody for questioning.
According to the police, the frightened schoolchildren shouted for help as they hid under their seats after the attackers opened indiscriminate fire.
Acting promptly, the driver managed to steer the vehicle to a safe place before informing the school management, which reported the matter to the police.
A detailed probe is underway, Bhaskar said.
Meanwhile, the state Congress shared a video of the school van on its official X handle and slammed the Yogi Adityanath government over the prevailing law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh.
"Thankfully, no child was harmed by the firing but till now no answer has been received to any question related to the incident," the Congress said.
"Who were these miscreants? Why did they fire on the bus carrying children? When will they be arrested? There are hundreds of such questions but no one has the answers to them," it added.
The Congress also alleged that the criminals are slapping on the face of law and order by daring to carry out such a "Syria-like" incident in Uttar Pradesh even as the chief minister prepares to make false promises ahead of the November 13 by-elections.
"When even innocent little children are not safe in the state, what guarantee can there be for the lives and property of others," the Congress asked.
अमरोहा में एक स्कूल बस 28 बच्चों को लेकर जा रही थी। रोज की तरह बच्चे भी मस्ती में झूमते सुनहरे भविष्य का ख्वाब आंखों में पाले पढ़ने जा रहे थे। इतने में 3 नकाबपोश बदमाश आये और एक किमी तक बस का पीछा करते हुए अंधाधुंध फायरिंग करते रहे।
— UP Congress (@INCUttarPradesh) October 25, 2024
गनीमत है कि बदमाशों की फायरिंग से किसी बच्चे… pic.twitter.com/sVkg2ZpBGE
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
