A 37-year-old man sustained injuries after being hit by pellets from an airgun in southwest Delhi’s Sagarpur on Tuesday evening, police said. The incident, which sparked local outrage, also led to the accused being thrashed by residents while being taken into custody.
According to police, a PCR call was received at Sagarpur police station about a firing incident. On reaching the spot, officers found that the injured, identified as Mukesh Kumar, a resident of Vashist Park, had been admitted to Shakuntala Hospital with pellet wounds on his lower back. During the inquiry, Mukesh told police that he was riding a scooty with his son in a back lane near his house when he suddenly felt something strike his back. Turning around, he spotted his neighbour, 40-year-old Anang Pal, allegedly standing on his balcony holding an airgun. Police said the airgun was seized, and Anang Pal was apprehended. However, during his arrest, angry locals surrounded him and assaulted him. A video of the incident, showing residents beating the accused while police personnel tried to intervene, has since gone viral on social media.
Officials clarified that the case does not involve any firearm. “The weapon used was an airgun, not a licensed or illegal firearm. Further legal action is being taken against the accused,” a senior police officer said.