India news: CJP alleges 'deliberate' delay in leaders' release

Here's a roundup of our coverage from India on Monday, October 19:

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Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff shot at in Mumbai, gunmen arrested

Three people were arrested in the western state of Rajasthan on Monday, in connection with the shooting at Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff, police said.

Five rounds were allegedly fired at Shroff's vehicle in Mumbai around 7 p.m. local time on Sunday. While Shroff escaped unhurt, his driver Firdosh and a bystander, Umesh Chavan, sustained bullet injuries, according to a report by The Indian Express newspaper.

Lawrence Bishnoi's gang, who is accused of involvement in the 2023 killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

In an audio message, Anil Pandit — linked to the Bishnoi gang — reportedly said he, along with Harman Sandhu, was behind the attack.

However, the Mumbai Police has not confirmed the Bishnoi gang's alleged involvement in the case.

Pandit reportredly warned that unless the actors stop working with Bollywood actor Salman Khan, the attacks will continue. "Anyone in the Mumbai film industry who does not listen to us or works with Salman Khan will be next. Wait and watch."

The attack on Shroff is the latest in a series of incidents of threats and violence allegedly connected to the Bishnoi gang, against Bollywood personalities over their links with Salman Khan.

The feud between Salman Khan and Lawrence Bishnoi dates back to 1998. It began with the poaching of two blackbuck antelopes, which is a sacred species to the Bishnoi community, to which Lawrence Bishnoi belongs.

Why Canada thinks India is behind Sikh leader killing

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CJP leaders remain in custody, magistrate alleges threat to life

The release of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, who were sent to five days of judicial custody on October 14 for entering Jantar Mantar, has been delayed.

Jantar Mantar has been a prominent protest site in the heart of Delhi for decades. However, Delhi police blocked it amid heavy barricading and deployment.

The duo's judicial custody was supposed to end on Sunday, but their bail hearing was stalled after the special executive magistrate failed to arrive at the scheduled time and later recused himself, citing a threat to his life.

The Delhi Police have registered a case against unknown persons for threatening the magistrate in connection with Ranka and Das's bails.

According to The Times of India, police sources said the magistrate is being pressured to release Ranka and Das without delay.

CJP's legal affairs chief, Ratna Singh, has alleged a "deliberate use of delaying tactics" to keep Das and Ranka "behind bars."

On Sunday, Singh said they had completed every required procedure and were "merely waiting for formal approval."

The CJP were detained amid calls for protests demanding the removal of top election official Gyanesh Kumar over his alleged involvement in electroal irregularities and mass deletions from voter rolls.

India: Protesters jailed amid election row

Hello! This is Midhat reporting from DW's New Delhi bureau, bringing you all the latest buzz from India.

Much like some other parts of the world, India is living through a tense political moment, with mass public pushback against the government.

The youth-led protests called by the Cockroach Janta Party were met with an unprecedented police crackdown on protesters in the past week, with the party's leaders being detained.

While CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke was released on Saturday, other prominent leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka remain in judicial custody.

Protests were also held at the Muslim-minority university Jamia Millia Islamia over restoration of the students' union.

Meanwhile, Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff was shot at by unidentified assailants in Mumbai. The gang ran by Lawrence Bishnoi — the gangster who is accused of involvement in the 2023 killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada — has claimed the attack.

Stay tuned with us as we bring you more updates from India.