Delhi Police have arrested three people including a minor for allegedly stabbing a 19-year-old man to death on Friday night after the scooter he was riding allegedly brushed past three pedestrians in the Geeta Colony area of Shahdara, police said on Saturday.
The victim was identified as Yash, who is a resident of Rani Garden, officers said.
According to the police, at 9.41 pm on Friday, a hospital in Laxmi Nagar alerted them about a man who arrived with stab injuries. “It was stated that the man was brought by the public with a stab injury to the lower back, and he was declared dead on arrival,” a police officer said.
Officers said Yash had a scuffle with Amaan, Lucky and a minor boy after his scooter grazed them near the Geeta Colony flyover. Probe revealed that the accused also chased Yash after the incident and one of them stabbed him with a knife before fleeing.
Passersby rushed the victim to a hospital, the police said, adding that some local residents, who identified Yash, informed his parents who lived nearby. Prashant Gautam, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Shahdara, said CCTV footage has been collected from nearby lanes to corroborate the sequence of the events. “Prima facie, it is suspected that the incident was caused after the victim’s vehicle grazed the accused,” the DCP said.
Yash’s parents stated that he also had an enmity with a few people over an issue related to a woman. The family’s claims are currently being verified, police said.
Yash’s cousin, Aman Sharma, who was present at the crime spot, said that Yash was on his way to pick him but near Ambedkar Park, Shiv Mandir, their scooter’s side mirror hit two boys. Elaborating the incident, the eyewitness said, “They pulled out a gun and pointed it at Yash...Later, they stabbed him. We took him to the hospital, where he was declared dead...We want the culprits to be punished.”
Meanwhile, Yash’s mother alleged that the murder was part of a conspiracy. “I want the girl and the boy, whose names are involved in the case, to be interrogated and punished...I do not trust the police; they are providing security to the house of those who have committed the crime. The police did not come here...My nephew was with my son at that time. His life is also in danger,” ANI quoted Yash’s mother Rakhi as saying.
The officer said that soon after the incident, several teams were formed and all three accused, including the minor, were identified and tracked down late into the night. They were apprehended from the same area.
The accused are being questioned and further investigations are on, officers said. The police have also deployed extra personnel in the locality in anticipation of further tension.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State and East Delhi MP Harsh Malhotra, along with local MLA Anil Goyal, visited the house of the deceased’s family at Rani Garden and met the bereaved parents and consoled them.
Malhotra also assured the family that Delhi Police will investigate the matter thoroughly and a strong and solid case will be prepared. He also said that if required, the Delhi Government will provide the best legal assistance to take legal action against the accused.
Delhi BJP also issued a statement on the incident which says, “Delhi Police has been requested not to consider this matter as limited to a road rage case, this matter should be investigated quickly and thoroughly so that the real reason behind the murder can be found out as the family members of the deceased have expressed some doubts.”
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva also expressed grief over the incident and assured a fair investigation in the case.