The young man who shot an elderly businessman dead at point-blank range in Lahori Gate here on Saturday evening has been identified as a Delhi Police head constable. Two pistols of Chinese-make, stolen gold chains and several live cartridges have allegedly been seized from him.
The accused, Ajay Tomar, was overpowered a few minutes after the incident when he leapt off a bridge in a bid to escape and fractured his legs. He is presently posted in the 7th battalion of the Delhi Police.
The condition of the injured, Sunny (24), continues to be critical. Sunny, who owns a mobile repair shop in Darya Ganj, was shot at allegedly by Ajay while he was chasing him on his motorcycle along with a policeman.
Head Constable Surender Tyagi, who is posted at Lahori Gate police station, was on patrol in the area on Saturday around 8-30 p.m. when he heard someone shouting for help and an elderly man lying slumped in a car in a pool of blood. The man, who identified himself as Mohit, told the policeman that he and his employer Amarjeet Singh Chadda (60) were on their way to Rani Bagh when a motorcyclist in police uniform intercepted them. The motorcyclist, according to Mohit, pulled him out of the vehicle and asked Mr. Chadda to handover his valuables. When Mr. Chadda offered resistance, the accused shot him in the stomach and escaped on foot with some jewellery.
Jumped from bridge
At this, head constable Tyagi gave a chase to the policeman on foot. The head constable had chased the accused for a few minutes when Sunny happened to come from behind on a motorcycle and offered the head constable a ride on his two-wheeler to help catch the assailant. On reaching Pul Mithai, the accused, Ajay, opened fire and the bullet hit Sunny on the neck. Ajay then jumped from the bridge in a bid to escape, but fractured his legs and was arrested.
Sunny, a resident of Kishanganj railway colony, is admitted at St. Stephens Hospital. His brother Gurjeet Singh said: “I was at the shop when I got a call from the police saying that Sunny was injured in an accident. I got to know the whole story on reaching the hospital. He was returning home with his two friends who were on another motorcycle when the incident took place. He has been operated upon and bullet removed. But he is unconscious.”
The deceased, Mr. Chadda, is survived by his wife and a son and a daughter. He owned a dry fruits shop in Fatehpuri Chowk. He was a resident of Rani Bagh.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Northern Range) Sudhir Yadav said: “It was because of the efforts of Sunny and the policemen that the accused could be caught. Had he been able to escape from the spot, it would have been very difficult to trace him. Sunny himself offered to help head constable Tyagi in his chase and gave him a ride. When Sunny and Tyagi intercepted the accused on Pul Mithai, two constables also reached the bridge from the other side. Left with no option, the accused jumped from the bridge and was caught. It was unfortunate though that Sunny was injured.”
The police said that investigation was on to know whether the accused had any previous involvements. “As per the investigation so far, the accused was alone at the time of incident. His statement has been recorded,” said Mr. Yadav.
