A 16-year-old boy was stabbed to death allegedly by three of his schoolmates in East Delhi’s Shakarpur when he refused to give them a samosa party after buying a new phone.

According to the police on Tuesday, the accused have been identified as three juveniles, all aged 16 years. While one is a student of Class 11, the other two are students of Class nine, who have been apprehended in connection with the murder.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Apoorva Gupta said that they found about the crime after the police saw blood on the street. “On Monday around 7:15 pm during patrolling, beat staff noticed blood on the street near Ramji Samosa shop and conducted an enquiry,” she said.

While the argument was escalating, there were people present on the spot who alerted the police. She said local people informed the team that a group of boys had stabbed one boy, who was taken to the Loknayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) hospital.

 “Approx an hour later, Shakarpur police station received information from LNJP Hospital about the admission of a 16-year-old boy named Sachin, resident of Shakarpur, who was declared brought dead,” Gupta stated, adding that the incident occurred in full public view.

Gupta said Sachin succumbed to injuries in the hospital about an hour later. “During the inspection of the body, two stab wounds were found on the back. Further investigation revealed that deceased Sachin and his minor friend were returning after buying a new mobile phone when they encountered a group of three other boys near Ramji Samosa shop,” she stated.

Further, the DCP added that the fight ensued after the deceased refused to give a party to his schoolmates. “The group demanded a party or a treat to celebrate the purchase but Sachin refused. An argument ensued, leading to the stabbing,” Gupta said.

A person passing through the area around 9 pm stated that the crime scene was heavily guarded by police and blood marks of the victim were seen on the road. “All shops around the crime scene were closed. I was very shocked to see that such a gruesome murder happened on the streets of Delhi. Everyone was terrified listening to the details,” said a bystander.

Everyone was disgusted by the gruesome crime committed in front of them. Police patrolled the area whole night looking for the culprits.

She said a case under sections 103(1), (Punishment for murder) and 3(5), (When a criminal act is done by several persons in furtherance of the common intention of all, each of such persons is liable for that act in the same manner as if it were done by him alone) of the BNS has been registered at the Shakarpur police station and the trio was apprehended from the locality on Tuesday.