JOIN USDU student stabbed to death
A 22-year-old Delhi University student was stabbed to death and his friend injured in a scuffle between two groups over personal enmity in south-east Delhi’s Ambedkar Nagar on Monday.
Police have arrested one of the accused and apprehended two minors.
Pankaj Kashyap was a second year BA student of Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, and lived with family in Madangir. He was declared brought dead at Batra Hospital, while his friend Lekhraj is undergoing treatment for stab wound in his thigh.
Lekhraj has identified the accused as Pradeep, who has a criminal history, and four minors. He told police that the attack was a result of personal enmity over a six-month-old altercation between three of the accused minors and his cousin Om Prakash.
“Lekhraj claims he along with Pankaj and another friend Yajwender were near Shiv Shakti Market when the attack took place at around 9.30 pm,” a police officer said.
Victim intercepted
They were travelling on Pankaj’s motorcycle and were on their way to Lekhraj’s garment shop in Shiv Shakti Market. “The accused were waiting near the market, and forcibly stopped Pankaj’s motorcycle,” the officer added.
A heated argument took place between the two groups and it soon turned violent. Pankaj, Lekhraj and Yajwender were punched, abused and threatened with dire consequences.
“During the melee, Pankaj was held by a minor and stabbed multiple times by another minor,” the officer said.
Lekhraj was overpowered by Pradeep and stabbed by the third minor in his left thigh. The fourth minor was holding Yajwender, but he managed to escape unhurt.
In public view
Hearing the commotion, several locals rushed to the spot. The accused, however, fled after threatening the onlookers with dire consequences.
Lekhraj only informed his aunt Kamlesh about the attack, while a relative Chetram came to the spot. Chetram made a call to the police control room and also informed Ambedkar Nagar SHO Abhey Singh.
Kamlesh also rushed to the spot and made another call to the PCR room over the grievous injuries suffered by Pankaj and Lekhraj.
“Kamlesh rushed Pankaj and Lekhraj on her moped to Batra Hospital, where Pankaj was declared brought dead,” the officer added.
Arrested
A case of murder and causing grievous hurt has been filed over Lekhraj’s statement with Ambedkar Nagar police station. “We have arrested Pradeep and apprehended two minors. Rest of the accused have been identified and several teams are working on leads,” he said.
To protest alleged police inaction over the entire issue, locals also blocked the BRT corridor near Ambedkar Nagar on Tuesday.