Murder accused arrested after exchange of fire

A man who stabbed a shopkeeper for not giving free cigarette packets was arrested after an exchange of fire in the West Patel Nagar area of Central Delhi, the police said on Wednesday.

The accused, identified as Mohammad Mehtab (19), was under the influence of alcohol when he stabbed the shopkeeper.

According to the police, a PCR call regarding the stabbing incident was received on Tuesday mentioning that a person was declared dead on arrival at RML Hospital.

Based on the call, a case under Sections 103(1), murder and 3(5) ‘common intentions’ of the BNS was registered, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Nidhin Valsan said.

The police examined the CCTV footage and gathered forensic evidence from the spot. Based on the CCTV analysis, the accused were identified.

Around 8 pm on Tuesday, the police got a tip-off that the main accused, Mehtab, was hiding under the Shadipur flyover near the railway line and was trying to flee from Delhi, the DCP mentioned.

When the police team reached the spot around 9 pm and asked him to surrender, he opened fire on the police party. In retaliation, the police also fired. One bullet struck the accused on his right leg. He was subsequently overpowered, disarmed and shifted to RML Hospital, Valsan said.

On the day of the incident, the accused went to a pan shop after consuming liquor and demanded free cigarette packets. When the shopkeeper refused free cigarettes, a quarrel broke out. The accused stabbed him before felling the spot. The victim was shifted to a hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival, Valsan added.