A three-year-old complaint related to alleged illegal liquor sales and the dispute that ensued apparently culminated in two murders in an outer-north Delhi village, where a 27-year-old man was shot dead. At the same time, the attacker was subsequently beaten to death by the victim’s brother, police sources said on Sunday.
The deceased have been identified as Sachin and Sonu alias Pradeep, residents of the same locality in Pooth Khurd village in Bawana area.
Police have arrested Sachin’s brother Naresh for allegedly killing Sonu, an officer said.
According to police, Bawana police station received information about a firing incident around midnight on Saturday. Sachin was taken to Maharishi Valmiki Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. He had sustained a gunshot injury to his chest.
A police team rushed to the crime scene, where bloodstains and three empty cartridges were found inside a cowshed on a plot owned by Sachin’s family. During further searches, another body was found in an adjoining lane, around 100 metres from the cowshed. The deceased was identified as Sonu.
“Preliminary investigation and examination of CCTV footage revealed that Sonu had called Sachin and asked him to come out of his house. A quarrel broke out between the two, following which Sonu opened fire at Sachin before attempting to flee,” a senior police officer said.
Hearing the gunshots, Naresh came out and chased Sonu. He caught hold of him, following which a confrontation took place. Naresh allegedly assaulted Sonu with bricks and stones, repeatedly hitting his head, leading to his death, the officer said.
Police have arrested Naresh in connection with Sonu’s murder and are investigating the circumstances surrounding both killings.
Police sources said Sachin worked as a healthcare worker, while Naresh was employed at a factory in Kundli. The two brothers lived together on the plot.
According to sources, Sonu allegedly sold liquor illegally from a makeshift shop near Sachin’s plot. Around three years ago, a complaint was made about the illegal liquor trade. Sonu reportedly suspected that Sachin was behind the complaint and held a grudge against him.
“Sonu reached the plot late on Saturday night, kicked in the gate and had an argument with Sachin. Subsequently, he went back to his shop, brought a pistol and shot Sachin on the road outside,” the source said.
Sachin’s uncle, Rakesh, said Naresh called him on the night of the incident and asked him to arrange a vehicle. When he reached the plot, Sachin was lying in a pool of blood near the cowshed. He was taken to hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Rakesh said he later learnt that Sonu had also been killed, allegedly by Naresh. Police said forensic teams examined the crime scene and collected evidence. They are investigating the motive and the sequence of events leading to the two deaths.