A customer shot dead a 30-year-old barber after he was told that his turn would only come after three people who were already waiting in the hairdressing salon in south east Delhi’s Jamia Nagar area on Tuesday. The murder of Mohammad Irshad Salmani of Shaheen Bagh sparked peaceful protests in the locality with many residents picketing outside the Jamia Nagar police station with the body on Wednesday, demanding immediate arrest of the accused identified as a local cheater Afam. The cops said they have launched a hunt to nab the accused, who is understood to be out on bail.
According to some residents, the incident took place when Afam — originally from Satla in Uttar Pradesh —arrived at the hairdressing salon and demanded a hair cut. Irshad’s younger brother Iqrar who was present at the shop requested Afam to wait for his turn. This infuriated Afam, who slapped Iqrar at least thrice and even broke the mirror.
Disturbed by the development, Iqrar ran to his home located nearby and informed Irshad about the incident and then both rushed to the shop. “Before Irshad could ask what the matter was Afam took out a pistol and shot him in his chest,” said a police officer, adding, “He escaped from the spot soon after”.
Injured Irshad was rushed to a nearby hospital (Al Shifa) and the cops were informed about the development. Irshad, however, was declared brought dead by the doctors. later on he was taken to the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for post-mortem.
It was on Wednesday morning when the news of Irshad’s murder spread in the locality, many turned up outside the deceased house in Shaheen Bagh. Some local leaders too came in and it was here that the decision was made to march to Jamia Nagar police station mounting pressure on the cops to crack the case.
The cops assured the protesting residents of taking action. The first thing that they did was to register a murder case. Further investigations are on, claimed a cop. Investigating officials said they were questioning Iqrar in connection with the matter to understand the incident. Besides, other customers who were present at the shop when Irshad was shot dead are also being questioned.