AAP MLA Alka Lamba injured in attack, party blames BJP

The Chandni Chowk MLA received head injuries and was rushed to Aruna Asaf Ali Hospital, where she was discharged after treatment. The accused identified as Jatin (19) was caught by AAP workers after a chase. Later, he was handed over to the police.  

Meanwhile, AAP leader Ashutosh tweeted that local residents claimed the man worked at a sweet shop owned by BJP lawmaker OP Sharma. AAP sources said the man was standing close to the sweet shop. It was part of a “deep conspiracy”, Ashutosh tweeted. In her complaint, Lamba said Jatin had 

lobbed a stone when she opposed the encroachment by some shopkeepers at Kashmere Gate.

“At the time of the attack, Lamba was outside Shiv <g data-gr-id="48">Mishthan</g> Bhandar, where Jatin works,” said Madhur Verma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North).

“The MLA’s medical reports suggested that she had received simple blunt injury on her head. We have arrested the accused following her complaint,” said Verma. Lamba started an anti-drug drive at 5 am from Yamuna Bazar to mark the Quit India Movement Day.

The MLA alleged that the incident was a conspiracy against her anti-drug drive and urged the police to conduct a fair probe into the matter. “We were holding discussions with drug addicts as a part of the anti-drug drive when I was attacked,” Lamba said at a press conference. “There is definitely a conspiracy behind it. I am hopeful that police will conduct a fair probe and find out who is behind this attack,” she said.

“The motive behind this attack was not to target me but to disrupt our campaign and disperse the crowd,” the AAP leader said. Ashutosh tweeted, “AAP’s fight (against) drugs will be intensified. AAP MLA Alka Lamba was attacked by <g data-gr-id="54">drug</g> cartel. Our fight will continue.”

“Local residents told us (that the) man (who) attacked Alka Lamba was working in <g data-gr-id="52">sweet</g> shop. (The) <g data-gr-id="50">shop</g> is owned by present BJP MLA Om Prakash Sharma,” he tweeted.

“...she was the only one in the crowd who was hit. It’s deep conspiracy. AAP will fight back,” he tweeted.  Meanwhile, the BJP condemned the attack on Lamba and said there was no involvement of OP Sharma in the incident. “We condemn the incident. But, even if they (AAP) sneeze, they suspect <g data-gr-id="64">role</g> of the BJP behind it. OP Sharma has no involvement in the attack. The shop is owned by one of his <g data-gr-id="61"><g data-gr-id="63">brother</g></g> not by Sharma. They are not in talking terms as his brother has filed few property related cases against him,” a Delhi BJP spokesperson said.