Chhattisgarh attack: Meet the three men who saved VC Shukla's life

Former Union Minister and Congress leader VC Shukla, who was attacked by Naxals on Saturday, continues to remain critical at a Gurgaon hospital. His survival, though, is thanks to three brave men who battled bullets and outsmarted the to save Shukla.

Shukla survived thanks to three brave men along with him - Daulat Ram, VC Shukla’s secretary, Bala, his driver and bodyguard Praful Shukla.

“Praful Shukla took position and fired at our attackers. He told VC Shukla that he was running out of bullets and that he won’t survive,” Bala, Shukla’s driver said.

Praful’s wife, Usha Shukla said if he was well armed he would have defended him. “If my husband had more bullets he could have defended himself better and could have prevented any harm to VC Shukla.”

Praful was hit by seven bullets, his hand mutiliated, he shot himself dead after saying sorry to VC Shukla.

Those who got away say the Naxals knocked on every car and passed instructions in Telegu to kill all occupants. That’s when Shukla’s Telegu speaking driver Bala came in. “When they opened the driver side of the car, I got out and begged them not to harm us. I said that we were not local politicians,” Bala said.

The Maoists moved on but VC Shukla had taken four bullet hits by then and was bleeding. “I reached the spot and VC Shukla was not well. I told the attackers that whatever happens I had to take him to the hospital immediately,” VC Shukla’s secretary Daulat Ram said.