Cops shoot at drunk constable

Security men react as he rams car into Akashvani Bhavan gate

A drunk off-duty Delhi Police constable was shot at by security personnel at Akashvani Bhavan in north Delhi’s Timarpur after he rammed his car into the building gate in the wee hours of Monday.

Two constables of Nagaland Armed Police were on duty at the building when the incident occurred at 3.30 am. They opened fire suspecting it to be a possible terror attack, police said.

The injured constable has been identified as 24-year-old Ankit Kumar, who belongs to the first battalion of the Delhi Armed Police and is posted with Kalyanpuri police station in east Delhi.

Police said he sustained a gunshot wound in the left side of the chest and is undergoing treatment at Lok Nayak Hospital.

“His condition is stated to be stable,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Madhur Verma.

An initial probe has also revealed that the accident occurred as Ankit lost control at the wheel in an inebriated condition.

“Ankit was on a joyride with a friend in his Maruti Swift. They had left home after having a few drinks,” Verma added.

Ankit’s friend Prashant works with a private firm in Ghaziabad. They are neighbours at Mahalaxmi Enclave in north-west Delhi’s Karawal Nagar.

The entire incident has also been caught on CCTV cameras installed outside the building. Ankit was seen driving.

“The CCTV footage shows that Ankit kept speeding towards gate number one of the building. The gate was locked and got completely damaged on impact,” Verma said.

Prashant deboarded when the car finally came to a halt a short distance inside the premises.
Both of them sustained minor injuries, but Ankit tried to flee from the spot. He restarted the car when a Nagaland Armed Police constable approached to question them.

“As Ankit went ahead to drive inside the premises, Nagaland Armed Police constable Y Ashok opened fire at the driver,” another police officer said.

Ankit was hit, but still managed to leave the building. The gunshot, however, forced him to seek medical help and he reached Civil Lines police station in north Delhi.

“Ankit has some friends in the police station. The staff rushed Ankit to Lok Nayak Hosptal, where his condition is stated to be stable,” the officer added.

Immediately after the incident, the Nagaland Armed Police constables informed their senior, who made a call to the police control room. A message about Ankit’s gunshot was also shared on the wireless and with the control room.

Suspected terror attack
On being questioned, the constables told police that they suspected it to be a terror attack as Ankit drove towards the main building of the Akashvani Bhavan.

“They claim to have warned Ankit and opened fire when he did not stop and almost hit them while fleeing,” the officer said.

Ankit’s medical examination has also confirmed he had consumed alcohol. “Ankit had joined Delhi Police as a constable in 2010. We have recorded Prashant’s statement, while Ankit has been declared unfit for statement by doctors at Lok Nayak Hopsital,” Verma said.

Prashant was overpowered at the building and was handed over to police. In his statement, Prashant told police that he had consumed alcohol with Ankit when he returned from duty late on Sunday.

Ankit had then insisted for a joyride. Sources said he was not carrying his driving licence or the documents of the vehicle.

A case under sections 279 (rash driving) and 427 (mischief causing damage) under Indian Penal Code has been registered with Timarpur police station.