Covering Shambhu border chaos, Aaj Tak reporter says ‘hit by bullet’

Covering the chaos at the Shambhu border between Punjab and Haryana, a reporter from Aaj Tak said on camera that he had been “hit by a bullet” on Tuesday afternoon.

Newslaundry confirmed that Satender Chauhan of Aaj Tak has been injured. India Today sources said it was a “tear gas shrapnel” and Chauhan is safe.

Haryana police fired tear gas to disperse the mob as protesters tried to remove the barricades on Tuesday. As farmer unions tried to march to the national capital amid heavy security, many were reportedly detained and their vehicles seized at the border. This came as the stalemate continued between the union leaders and Union ministers with a meeting on Tuesday evening making no progress on the farmers’ demands.

On Monday, reporting from the Shambhu border, Chauhan earlier gave viewers a glimpse of the police preparations to stop the farmers, including mock drills. “The police are continuously preparing to stop the farmers,” he said in a video for Aaj Tak Digital on Monday.

On Tuesday, as police lobbied tear gas shells, Chauhan said on air that he had been hit by a bullet, around 1.51 pm while reporting from the Shambhu border near Ambala.

“Firing is taking place here and the situation is worrisome,” he said, seconds before claiming that he had been shot. “Lag gayi mere lag gayi. Mere goli lag gayi. Neha, mere goli lag gayi (I have been hit by a bullet. Neha, I have been hit by a bullet),” he said, as the camera showed haze on the road with people running in different directions. 

The news spread quickly on social media, with some saying that he had been shot, and others wondering if it was a rubber bullet.

Earlier, as tear gas shells left Chauhan breathless during the reportage on Tuesday, the anchor told him to “cover your face with a piece of cloth”. Chauhan continued speaking to the camera, using a piece of cloth, wearing a helmet.

Newslaundry reached out to the India Today Group PRO for comment. This report will be updated if a response is received.

Update at 3.53 pm, Feb 13: In a tweet, India Today said that Chauhan is “doing fine”. “He has been treated at the local hospital and is on his way for a detailed examination.”