One killed, 4 injured in N-E Delhi

Deceased was a property dealer and was involved in several disputes

In an attack suspected to be the fallout of a business rivalry, a property dealer was gunned down and four others were injured in North-East Delhi’s Bhajanpura on Tuesday morning.

Those who received gunshot wounds included the property dealer’s 16-year-old son and two passers-by who came in the line of fire. The fourth victim, a pedestrian, was hit by the assailants as they fled in their Swift Dzire car.

Police have seized the CCTV footage of the crime scene, but said they were yet to identify the assailants. Eyewitnesses said the killers were masked and their car windows tinted.

The deceased has been identified as Kailash Gupta, a property dealer who lived with his family in Harsh Vihar, not far from the crime spot. One of his sons had been murdered a year ago, allegedly over a property dispute.

AK Singla, DCP (North-East), said Mr. Gupta was involved in several property disputes. “The deceased and his wife were arrested last Wednesday over allegations of land grabbing, but were released on bail,” said Dr. Singla.

Investigators said they suspect the killing to be linked to one of his property disputes. Around half-a-dozen police teams have been formed and several suspects picked up for questioning.

The deceased and his youngest son, Rajan, had left home for some work early on Tuesday.

Around 7.30 a.m., they stopped their motorcycle on the busy Bhajanpura Chowk to have fruit juice.

Suddenly, a Swift Dzire car pulled up by their side. Before anyone could sense something was wrong, two men rolled down the car windows and opened fire at the father-son duo.

“The father was hit in his chest and he died on the spot. The boy too suffered a bullet injury, but he ran for his life. On finding my tea shop open, he barged in and begged to be saved,” said Prabhu Singh, an eyewitness.

Before Singh could decipher what had happened, he found the car occupants firing at his tea shop. “They were trying to kill the boy, but a bullet hit Ram Lakhan, an auto driver who is my regular customer,” said Mr. Singh.

Another man Banwari Lal, a security guard at an office in the area, who was walking to work was also hit by a bullet on his chest.

Even as the assailants kept firing, some locals began gathering at the spot, forcing the assailants to flee. As they sped, they ran over Javed, who suffered grievous wounds to his chest and abdomen. His condition is said to be critical.