JOIN USA businessman was lucky to escape unhurt despite being fired upon twice by contract killers in west Delhi’s Hari Nagar on Tuesday. Instead, a policeman suffered minor injuries while nabbing one of the armed assailants, police said.
Two other accused were chased and overpowered with the help of local residents. Another suspect was nabbed later in the day.
He is accused of supplying them the motorcycle on which the assailants had arrived. Police said he was aware of the conspiracy.
The accused have told police they only intended to injure their target Ashok Garg to keep him out of business for about two months.
Garg’s business involves importing aluminium from China.
“Garg was fired upon the first time while he was approaching his Hari Nagar office around 8.15 am. But the shooter missed and Garg did not realise then that he was under attack,” an officer told Deccan Herald.
Garg parked his car outside his office and went inside. The three men sometime later approached him on a motorcycle and asked him about his identity.
As soon as it was confirmed, they opened fire at him, police said in a release.
Garg, however, escaped unhurt and shouted out for help. As locals gathered, the men fled.
However, their motorcycle collided against a parked car in the same lane and they fell.
They then fled in different directions.
Police said two men were armed with pistols while the third carried a knife.
Constable Manna Ram, posted with the security unit, was at the spot and pounced on of the suspects.
Despite that man pointing a pistol at Ram’s neck and threatening him to free him, Ram dared and snatched the weapon, said police.
Residents, meanwhile, had overpowered the other two. Police were informed and they interrogated the accused after registering a case against them with Hari Nagar police station.
The weapons and motorcycle were seized.
The vehicle was found to be stolen from Rajouri Garden area a few days ago. The accused revealed who had stolen the motorcycle and that person was also nabbed.
All the accused were found to be aged between 19 and 26. Two of them were found to be involved in seven other criminal cases between them.
They had been paid an advance of Rs 10,000 to carry out the attack, police alleged.
Police did not divulge the identity of Garg’s business rival who had allegedly given the contract to the men for Rs 50,000.
They said he is likely to be arrested soon.