NEW DELHI, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- An Indian student leader at country's prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Monday escaped unhurt after a man fired upon him, police said.

Umar Khalid, according to police, was shot at by an unidentified man at the Constitution Club near Indian Parliament in New Delhi, the capital city of India. However, the bullets missed the intended target and Khalid escaped unhurt.

Khalid was at the venue to attend an event Khauff Se Azaadi' (Freedom from fear), put together by the United Against Hate organization.

"There is an atmosphere of fear in the country, and anybody who speaks against the government is threatened," Khalid told media after the attack.

Reports said the attacker fired shots from the pistol and then managed to escape.

The attack comes two days ahead of India's independence day when authorities say they have heightened security across the country at sensitive locations.

Khalid along with other students leaders was arrested in 2016 on charges of sedition in connection with an event in JNU where anti-India slogans were raised allegedly.

In June, Khalid filed a complaint with the police alleging death threat.