• Source:JND
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In response to a recent assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump, the central government has directed Director Generals of states, union territories, and paramilitary forces to enhance security measures for "high-risk dignitaries," especially during rallies and roadshows. This directive comes in the wake of a series of recent assassination attempts on prominent political figures around the world.

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On July 13, Trump was shot in his right ear while addressing a campaign rally near Pennsylvania. He was attacked by a 20-year-old assailant who fired eight rounds from an AR-15-style rifle from a building rooftop. This incident, along with six other notable attempts, was cited by the Centre in its communication shared on July 16 with the DGs, including those in-charge of the CRPF, CISF, ITBP, NSG as well as state intelligence bureaus.

Among the referenced attacks were the fatal shooting of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on July 8, 2022, by an individual with a homemade shotgun, and an attempted assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on November 3, 2022, during a road march, which left him with a bullet injury.

"Former PM of Japan, Shinzo Abe, was fatally shot on July 8, 2022, from close quarters by an individual using a homemade shotgun, while addressing a corner public meeting. During a road march, former Pakistan PM Imran Khan was fired upon on November 3, 2022, and reportedly suffered a bullet injury. Vice-President of Argentina, Christina Fernandez, escaped an assassination bid on September 1, 2022, as a man unsuccessfully tried to fire a loaded pistol close to her head," The Indian Express quoted an official, citing the communication from the Centre’s internal security division.

Other recent incidents include the fatal shooting of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio on August 9, 2023. More recently, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot and wounded on May 15 during a public event.

"During an election campaign speech of former PM of Japan, Fumio Kishida, on April 15, 2023, a youth hurled a smoke bomb towards him from within the crowd. Fernando Villavicencio, one of the candidates for the Presidency of Ecuador, was shot dead on August 9 last year as he rode a police pick-up vehicle after a public rally. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico suffered life-threatening injuries when he was shot and wounded in an attempted assassination on May 15 this year during a public event," said the official.