Assailant Bought Knife To Attack Rekha Gupta But Discarded It Over Security Fears: Delhi Police Source

The man who attacked Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had planned a more serious assault, as per the new information gained by the Delhi Police in the investigation.

Sources disclosed to NDTV that the assailant, Rajesh Sakriya, procured a knife from a vegetable cart near the New Delhi Railway Station, intending to use it to attack the Delhi CM.

Sakriya attacked Gupta last week during a public hearing in the city's Civil Lines area and was later apprehended.

Sources indicate that Rajesh, a 'dog lover', confronted the Delhi CM following her purported disregard for his pleas to stop the removal of stray dogs in Delhi.

A scheme to assault Gupta was devised by him and his accomplice, Tahseen Syed, who has also been apprehended. The duo maintained ongoing communication, throughout which Rajesh is accused of transmitting a video of Gupta's Shalimar Bagh home.

Initially, Rajesh and his accomplice had conspired to strike the Supreme Court following its decree to relocate all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR and surrounding areas from residential neighborhoods to shelters, due to an increase in dog bite incidents and resultant rabies fatalities, according to sources. However, upon reaching the apex court, Rajesh abandoned the scheme due to the stringent security measures in place.

The suspect subsequently proceeded to Gupta's home in Shalimar Bagh, considering her to be an "easier target", according to sources.

Not long after, he resolved to assault Gupta using a knife and made his way to her office in Civil Lines. Upon noticing the security present during the 'Jan Sunwai' program, he discarded the knife and reportedly slapped her instead. The perpetrator also allegedly yanked and tugged at the CM's hair.

According to insiders, the police conducted a direct interrogation with the two suspects. During this, Syed reportedly stated that he wouldn't hesitate to confront anyone who obstructed his path.

Officials have stated that the police are continuing their search for the knife.