A shocking incident unfolded in Delhi’s Shahdara on Thursday night where a man and his 16 year old nephew were shot dead while they were celebrating Diwali, police said. Police further revealed that a minor has been held for planning the murder.
As per the details, the man’s 10 year old son was also injured in the incident. The deceased has been identified as Akash Sharma alias Chotu (40) and his nephew Rishabh Sharma. Akash’s son Krish, who suffered bullet injuries, is in a stable condition, police said.
The juvenile, allegedly a distant relative of the victim, claimed during questioning that he had a dispute with Akash involving Rs. 70,000 due to which he hatched a conspiracy to kill him, the police said.
“At 8.30 pm, a call was received regarding firing in Bihari Colony. On reaching the spot, the police learnt that the injured had been taken to a hospital. Akash and Rishabh were declared dead at the hospital,” Prashant Gautam, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara), said.
The purported footage of CCTV shows Rishabha and Akash bursting firecrackers outside their home when two people (one on a two wheeler and another on foot) arrive near the house and start talking to Akash. The person on the scooter, who was also the juvenile, touches Akash’s feet. When Akash goes inside the house, the other person takes out a gun, walks towards the door of the house and fires five shots.
“Akash was killed and his son was injured. Rishabh chased the shooter and was shot as well,” an officer said as reported by the Indian Express.
“The minor had hired the shooter to kill Akash. They were planning the murder for the last 15 days. They were waiting for a chance to kill him for three days and were roaming around his house,” added the officer.
Police revealed that Akash was into real estate business along with running a cosmetic shop at Chota Bazar near Bihari Colony. He and his family lived with the family of his elder brother Yogesh, Rishabh’s father. Akash is survived by his wife, two sons, and his mother.
Akash’s family denied this claim. His nephew Prateek Sharma said, “We knew his (juvenile’s) family… He used to frequently ask for money… My uncle didn’t know how to say no… My sister was to get married next week, and he was the most excited of us all. Now, everything is ruined.
War of Words Between the AAP and the BJP
Meanwhile, the incident sparked a war of words between the AAP and the BJP, with Delhi Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj accusing the BJP-led Centre of neglecting the city’s law and order situation.
“The situation has become so dire that it’s not unusual to hear of 60 rounds of gunfire at a time. Bomb blasts are occurring across the city, criminals are entering showrooms to extort money… Such lawlessness in the nation’s Capital is leaving people too frightened to step out of their homes,” Bharadwaj alleged.
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, however, claimed that the Delhi Police usually apprehend criminals within 24 to 96 hours and accused Bharadwaj of trying to “demoralize” the force for political gain.
“Resolving such criminal cases can be quite challenging… Despite this, Delhi Police swiftly apprehended the culprits and resolved the case,” Sachdeva said. He claimed Bharadwaj was seeking to “stay in the news” by “displaying insensitivity and making irrational statements”.
