Jamia shooter was sent to a 14-day police custody | Photo Credit: IANS

Key Highlights The youth reportedly brought the gun from his village and reached Delhi to take revenge for the death of one Chandan Gupta who was killed in Kasarganj violence on January 26 Union Home Minister Amit Shah had asked police to take strict action against the culprit

New Delhi: In a significant development, a Bajrang Dal leader has claimed that the minor gunman involved in the Jamia Millia Islamia shooting incident belonged to his outfit. A gun-wielding teenager fired upon protesters at an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) rally on Thursday. Functionaries of the outfit from Bulandshahr, on Friday, claimed that the shooter — identity withheld — has been a member of the outfit. The family members of the minor, however, claimed that he was not associated with Bajrang Dal.

Meanwhile, the shooter has been sent to 14-day protective custody by the Juvenile Justice Board. Delhi Police further said that the accused youth showed no remorse for his actions and was radicalised by videos on social media. According to reports citing police sources, the youth took a country-made pistol from his village and reached Delhi to take revenge for the death of one Chandan Gupta who was killed in Kasarganj violence on January 26.

In videos that went viral on social media, the accused was seen brandishing a country-made pistol and marching towards the anti-CAA protestors outside Jamia Millia Islamia. Despite heavy deployment of police at the venue, the youth fired at one of the protestors who suffered an injury in his hand. Police arrested the youth and a case has been filed against him under section 307 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 25/27 of Arms Act.

The injured student was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and is being treated for his injuries. Massive protests broke out at the Jamia Millia Islamia after the shooting incident. While Home Minister Amit Shah asked Delhi Police to take strict action against the culprit, a political war-of-words broke out over the matter when Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh accused BJP of 'conspiring' to postpone Delhi elections by creating law and order situation in the national capital.

The protests ended at about 10.30 pm on Thursday when the police released four detained protestors.