Lucknow, June 05: Uttar Pradesh Congress president Jagdambika Pal escaped unhurt today when an unidentified gunman fired a bullet injuring his security guard during a party procession taken out on his arrival here from New Delhi. "Someone fired a bullet from the third or fourth floor of a hotel near Hussainganj Crossing. The bullet must have been aimed at me", Pal said here.

"It was a just a chance that I escaped unhurt", he said adding though he did not want to point an accusing finger at anyone, "it is a black spot for the Mayawati government".

Official sources said an unidentified person opened fire at the Congress procession in which one Dinesh Kumar was injured.

Kumar was taken to the civil hospital where his condition was "stable", sources said adding district police was investigating the matter.

Congress legislature party leader Pramod Tewari, who accompanied Pal, said had the guard not come in the way, the bullet might have hit Pal.

"The bullet could have been fired by those perturbed by Pal's appointment as UPCC chief", he added.

Bureau Report