UP: Masked men open fire on school van, no injuries reported

NEW DELHI: 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.

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Attackers’ identity questioned

"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.