A 28-year-old undertrial was killed in a fight that broke out between him and other inmates in a prison van on its way to Delhi’s Tihar jail near Hauz Khas, the police said on Saturday.

The deceased and other inmates were being taken back to the Tihar jail from Saket court when the incident happened. Manoj had been lodged in the Tihar prison since 2005 and had been charged with attempt to murder. The police identified the attackers as Vishal, Raju and Salman.

According to the police, there was an argument between Manoj and Vishal which soon led to a scuffle, following which the driver of the prison van stopped the vehicle near the IIT flyover and called up the police control room (PCR).

“Around 2 pm on Saturday, a PCR call was made that a fight had been broken out between the inmates inside the van. On getting the information, the police reached the incident spot, and the SHO of Hauz Khas police station opened the van’s gate,’’ said Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Premnath.

“Manoj was found lying in a pool of blood and was rushed to the AIIMS Trauma Centre, where he was declared dead on arrival. A case of murder has been registered and the accused have been arrested,” Prem Nath said.

No weapon was used in the attack, said the police. 

According to the police, Manoj had an enmity with Vishal since 2012, and they had often fought with each other on the jail premises.

On Saturday, Manoj had a hearing at Saket court no. 211 while Vishal and his associates were to present at court no. 311.

After returning from the court’s hearing, Vishal along with his associates Raju and Salman attacked Manoj.

“The accused kicked and punched Manoj incessantly, severely injuring him,’’ said a police officer.

Though Manoj and Vishal were rivals but the police have refused to term the death as a result of gang-war.

“It’s not a gang war, but coincidentally the two old rivals met in a van while returning from court and the old feud turned fresh,’’ Premnath said.

The police have started an investigation into the incident and all the inmates present in the van are being questioned.

This is second such incident in less than six months where an inmate was killed by his co-inmates while being taken to jail from court.