All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday rejected the Z category security offered to him by the Union Home Ministry, a day after his car was shot at in Uttar Pradesh. The Hyderabad MP also demanded that the attackers be charged with a case under the anti-terror law UAPA. 

“I don’t fear death. I don’t want Z category security, I reject it; make me an ‘A’ category citizen,” he said during today’s Budget session proceedings at Lok Sabha. “I’ll not remain silent. Please do justice…charge them (shooters) with UAPA…appeal govt to end hate, radicalization,” he added. 

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Owaisi’s car came under attack in Hapur while he was returning to Delhi after attending election-related events in western Uttar Pradesh on Thursday evening, a week before assembly polls begin in the state. No one was injured in the incident, Owaisi said.

Four rounds were fired on his vehicle, Owaisi said, adding the a group of three to four people fled the scene after opening fire. He further said that a tyre of his car was punctured and that he left the area in another car. 

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Owaisi shared visuals of the car from near the Chhijarsi toll plaza, located on the Hapur-Ghaziabad stretch of the National Highway 24, in which two bullet holes can be seen on the side of the vehicle. 

Hapur police said on Friday that two people have been arrested in connection with the incident. The police have lodged an FIR for attempt to murder in the case and the accused duo has been remanded in judicial custody, it said. 

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“One of the accused has been identified as Sachin, a resident of Badalpur in Gautam Buddh Nagar, while the other is Shubham, a native of Nakur in Saharanpur,” police said in a statement.

His threat levels were assessed afresh after the incident, official sources said.

Under ‘Z’ category security, the second highest, CRPF commandos were to be deployed for Owaisi’s security 24X7. About 16-20 armed commandos were set to be deployed in shifts. He was also to be provided with an escort and a pilot vehicle when travelling by road.

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‘Z-plus’ is the highest category security provided to a person with high threat perception in India.

Owaisi on Thursday asked the Election Commission to ensure an independent probe into the incident.

Uttar Pradesh is scheduled to go to polls in seven phases starting from February 10.