Ghaziabad: More than 24 hours after two men stabbed a 55-year-old businessman and YouTuber at his office in Loni, leaving him with life-threatening injuries, police are yet to make any arrests.DCP (rural) Surendranath Tiwari said on Saturday an FIR has been registered against two unidentified assailants for the attack on Saleem Wastik and five others, based on a complaint from Wastik’s son under BNS sections 109 (1) (attempt to murder) and 3(5) (common intention) of BNS. Police are examining various possible motives, including personal enmity and ideological differences.Among those named by Wastik’s son as suspects are Azgar Ali, who is believed to be a functionary of AIMIM. The others are Asfaq, Sonu, Shahrukh and Bhati. “We have formed seven teams and looked at footage from more than 150 CCTV cameras to identify the attackers. We have some leads and we hope to solve the case soon,” Tiwari said. Wastik remains critical and his statement is yet to be recorded. “The motive will become clear only after the accused are arrested,” he said.Around 6am on Friday, the attackers arrived on a bike and parked outside Wastik’s office. After asking children standing nearby to leave, they entered the office, assaulted him and stabbed him multiple times in the abdomen and near the throat. They fled as family members rushed in. He was first taken to a nearby private hospital and later referred to GTB Hospital in Delhi.Wastik was known for posting videos on social media questioning fundamentalist practices. Asked about the motive of the attack, his son Usman told TOI on Saturday some people were unhappy with his father’s views and could be behind the attack. “He is still in the ICU. Doctors are concerned about the throat injury,” he said. The exact reason behind the attack can only be revealed by my father. I suspect the five persons against whom I’ve filed a complaint of orchestrating the attack on him.“Sources in Lucknow said chief minister Yogi Adityanath had taken cognisance of the attack and directed police to ensure speedy arrest and an impartial investigation in the case. Among locations searched for the suspects are two places in Delhi and two in Ghaziabad. “During the raids, certain important clues were obtained, on the basis of which further action is on,” said a source.
