In a sensational incident, two contractors, including a witness in a pending case, were shot dead in broad daylight by three assailants on a bike in Central Delhi’s Rajender Nagar locality on Thursday morning.
The murder took place in full public view in a crowded place. Those killed have been identified as Ram Charan (43) and lakhan lal (52). While Ram Charan took contracts for home constructions, lakhan dealt in marble works. The killers had fired from close range as Ram was shot in the head while lakhan was shot in the chest. The modus operandi suggested that the killers were professional as they fired in a clinical fashion.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Parmaditya said: “Ram Charan died on the spot while lakhan lal was rushed to Bl Kapoor Hospital in an unconscious state where he succumbed to his injuries.”
The incident took place around 9.18 am in the crowded market near Shankar Road in Rajender Nagar when the duo had gone there to look for more labourers for their respective work contracts. They had barely reached the place to negotiate with the casual workers when three unidentified men reached there on a motorbike and opened fire from close range before revving the bike. There were around over 50 people who witnessed the attack. Nobody dared to question the killers as they brandished weapons in the air before escaping from the crime spot.
Initial investigations have revealed that Ram Charan was a witness in a case pending in Tis Hazari Court and the attack could be linked to it. “We suspect that the incident is related to the evidence which Ram Charan had to give in the court next week,” said a senior police officer, adding, “Still, we are looking from all possible angles including personal enmity.”
Ram Charan’s relative, Suresh said: “I was there at the spot and had just gone to relieve when I heard gunshots. I ran towards the spot and saw Ram and lakhan lying in a pool of blood on the road.”
The investigators said that in all possibilities someone known was involved in the incident who knew exactly when they would go to the chowk near Shiv Shakti temple. It was a well-planned assault as the assailants did not even wait for them to go to a secluded lane or road and attacked them in front of over 50 people. Eyewitnesses told the police that the attackers brandished their weapons after opening the gunshots.
A case of murder has been registered at Rajender Nagar police station and several teams have been formed to arrest the assailants. CCTV footage of the area is being screened to identify the attackers. Three police teams have been constituted to solve the case and over 50 people have been questioned.