Delhi’s most recent victim of road rage, Mohammad Shahnawaz, could have been saved had the Delhi Police acted on time.
Shahnawaz was beaten to death by five people after his motorcycle grazed a car in Central Delhi’s Chandani Mahal area late on Sunday night. When his 13-year-old son Fahad ran to the nearest police post pleading for help, the cops posted at Turkman Gate did not budge.
What is more shocking is that a grievously injured Shahnawaz himself made a call to the PCR around 11.25 pm in a bid to save his life. However, true to their wont, the slothful Delhi Police personnel did not come for help claiming the area was not in their jurisdiction. Staff of Daryaganj, Chandani Mahal and Kamla Market police stations quibbled and waited for instructions from the district DCP who, too late in the day, ordered the Daryaganj SHO to register the case.
Turkman Gate Chowk, where the gruesome murder took place, has always been a bone of contention for the three police stations of Chandani Mahal, Kamla Market and Daryaganj. In the past too police personnel have bickered over jurisdiction.
Turkman Gate Police Post was just 50 yards away from the spot and 10 to 12 police personnel remain stationed there all the time.
But the policemen just refused to budge and the wailing boy was shooed away by the cops on the pretext that the area was not under their jurisdiction. They reportedly told the minor that he should call the staff of Kamla Market and Daryaganj police stations.
While his son ran to the police, a profusely bleeding Shahnawaz called the police control room (PCR) at 11.25 pm stating that a “few persons were beating him.” Soon after the call, a message about a “fight near Turkman PP” was flashed on the police’s wireless sets in the central district. As per protocol, a nearest PCR van was intimated and sent to the spot. But the policemen sitting at the Turkman Gate Police Post did not act as the spot did not fall under their jurisdiction.
The police post in-charge Yashpal however told The Pioneer that by the time they reached the spot Shahnawaz had already been taken to hospital.
The key witness in the case, Fahad said: “Two policemen were standing at the spot when the argument broke out. But they walked away, soon after the argument turned into a scuffle. I kept pleading with them to save my father, but they did not help.”
The police from Turkman Gate PP only reached the spot when a staff of Daryaganj police station arrived. In the meantime, a second call had been made, at about 12.30 am, stating “a man has been beaten to death” from the lNJP Hospital, by one of Shahnawaz’s relatives.
“Had the police acted on time, he could have been saved. Shame on Delhi Police as they did not act despite knowing that a man was being beaten up by goons,” said Allauddin, the uncle of Shahnawaz.
Earlier in the day two persons, Shahdab (23) and Mohammad Atif alias lala (30) were arrested by a central district police team when they came to surrender at a local court. Source said that Shahdab was driving the car while his father Khalid Amin was sitting next to him. His three friends Atif, Salim and Wasim were following them on a scooty. After the incident they left the scooty on the spot and absconded. Police had arrested Wasim, a few hours after the incident. Khalid Amin and Salim are still absconding.
Meanwhile, the family members of Shahnawaz have written to Police Commissioner BS Bassi demanding speedy justice. In the letter, a copy of which is with The Pioneer they said: “I am Salahuddin. I would like to inform you that my son Shahnawaz was murdered by Amin Pehalwan, his brothers and associates. The incident happened in front of the beat officers at Turkman Gate police post but nobody came to save him. My son leaves behind three minor children. We demand compensation of Rs 50 lakh for the support of his children.”