A dismissed Merchant Navy official went on a stabbing spree killing his 64-year-old father Ravinder Matta and set afire a piped gas line, leaving 11, including four
police personnel, injured in East Delhi’s IP Extension area on Sunday.
The horrific rampage that lasted for over one hour began around 2:35 pm when Rahul Matta, in his 30s, who was blacklisted from entering Ajanta Apartments because of his “bad behaviour”, and “mental instability” tried to gain entry forcibly into the residential complex where his elderly parents lived. Rahul was stopped at the main gate by security guard Nandan.
Residents claimed that when Nandan rang up the Residents’ Welfare Association president to inform him about Rahul’s attempt to gain
entry, Rahul allegedly stabbed Nandan and ran towards the house of his father who had returned from Canada just three days ago.
Working in the financial sector, Ravinder was at home with his wife, Vibha Matta, when Rahul barged into their house, located on the second floor. Rahul then allegedly stabbed his father brutally in front of his mother, they said.
Hearing the commotion, Renu Bansal, a woman, who lives on the first floor of the apartment, rushed upstairs. Upon seeing Bansal, Rahul allegedly stabbed her too. She sustained stab injuries on her face.
Rahul then rushed to the third floor where VK Sharma, lives with his family. Sharma told The Pioneer that the moment his son left home, Rahul forcibly entered his house with two meat cleavers in his hands. “He threatened me, saying ‘Uncle mujhe chupa do. Maine apne baap ka khoon kia hai, aapko bhi maar dunga’ (Uncle, hide me somewhere. I have killed my father. I will kill you too if you don’t help me)”.
“I tried to calm him down. But he was in a rage. He asked me to go and lock myself in the bathroom. I turned back while walking towards the bathroom and quickly ran inside my room which has an attached balcony. I then went to the balcony and made a call to police control room,” said Sharma.
“He asked me to open the door. When I did not open the door of my room, he started ransacking another room. He kicked down the cupboard, threw all the clothes and left everything in a disarray,” said Sharma, who has acted in Bollywood movie Tewar, where he played the role of Sonakshi Sinha’s father.
Once Sharma made the PCR call, a team from Madhu Vihar police station rushed to sport. Police then called Delhi Fire Services after Sharma had told them that he could smell leakage from a pipe gas in his house.
The police team rushed to the spot and when the personnel came face to face with Rahul, he reportedly went berserk and tried to attack the police.
“When he threatened to burn down Sharma’s house, we immediately evacuated people residing in the 16 blocks in the area. The Delhi Fire Service was contacted and we also asked the PNG officials to cut off the gas line,” said Omvir Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East).
“While we were trying to pacify Rahul, Rahul lit a match stick, triggering a blast. Five policemen were injured. Despite their injuries, the officers overpowered him who sustained burn injuries on his hand,” said the DCP.
The injured were taken to Max Hospital, where Ravinder succumbed to his injures. Four Sub-Inspectors had sustained grievous burn injuries, with SIs Nishant, Manish suffering 43 and 41 percent burn injuries. Two Additional Sub Inspectors and a constable also suffered minor injuries, he added.
According to the locals of the Ajanta Apartments, Ravinder returned to Delhi from Canada three days ago. He was not in good terms with his son Rahul.
“Rahul seems to be mentally unstable and was also not in good terms with his father. Hehad been dismissed from Merchant Navy. A case has been registered. Investigation has been initiated to ascertain as to what transpired between the father and son, which led to this horrific incident. We will question his mother to further shed light on the case,” said the DCP.
Fire officials said eight fire tenders were rushed to the spot and doused the flames within half an hour. “Other flats were also affected due to the fire,” a fire official said.
Those trapped in the building were later rescued by the residents and fire officials bringing them down using ropes.