In a shocking incident late on Friday night, four bike-borne assailants fired around 16 rounds at a fuel pump office in the Gokulpuri area on Wazirabad Road in North East Delhi, injuring one person. The police suspect an old village level rivalry of the fuel pump owner in the incident. Supervisor of the pump, Ansul Rathi sustained minor injuries in the incident due to the breaking of window glass, a police official said. The incident has raised concerns about law and order in the national Capital. The shooter was also caught in the CCTV camera installed at the petrol pump.
According to the Delhi Police, the firing took place at Mukul Diesel Petrol Pump in the Gokulpuri area around 10:38 P.M. The injured, identified as supervisor Anshul Rathi, suffered minor injuries from glass shards and was rushed to GTB Hospital. Doctors confirmed that his injuries were not life-threatening. Rathi has been working at the petrol pump for six years and reportedly has no known enmity with anyone.
Eyewitnesses and police sources revealed that four assailants arrived on two motorcycles. A pillion rider on one of the bikes opened fire at the office cabin from outside before the two bikes sped off in different directions — one towards Gokulpuri and the other towards the Loni roundabout.
The petrol pump owner, Harish Chaudhary, informed police that the attack could stem from an old rivalry in his village. Chaudhary, who is known as a “bad character” of the Gokulpuri police station area, has several pending cases against him. Delhi Police have launched an investigation and are scrutinising CCTV footage from the area to identify the culprits.
“We are taking this case very seriously. The involvement of multiple rounds of firing indicates a premeditated attack. Investigations are underway to ascertain the motive and identify the attackers,” a senior police official said.
Security has been tightened around the petrol pump, and additional police personnel have been deployed to ensure public safety.