Delhi SHOCKER: Shopkeeper, 40, stabbed to death by 5 minors for refusing to give free cigarettes; main accused held after gunfight, arms seized

Delhi murder: In a shocking incident, a 40-year-old shopkeeper was allegedly stabbed to death by a group of six people, including five minors, in central Delhi after the victim refused to give them free cigarettes.

Delhi shopkeeper killed for refusing free cigarettes

According to the police, the incident took place on Monday night when the accused boys arrived at the victim’s shop in West Patel Nagar and demanded free cigarettes. When the deceased, identified as Rajender Kumar, a resident of Baljeet Nagar, refused to oblige, a scuffle broke out during which the accused stabbed the 40-year-old shopkeeper to death.

Kumar was rushed to the RML hospital, where doctors declared him dead, police said, adding the victim has sustained grievous stab wounds in the assault which resulted in his demise due to excessive blood loss and organ rupture.

5 minors, main accused held after gunfight

A senior official said that six suspects, including five minors, were identified after analyzing forensic evidence, CCTV footage and examining the dossiers of known offenders. The main accused, 19-year-old Md Mehtab alias Raja, was arrested on Tuesday following a brief exchange of fire with the police, while five of his accomplices– all minors– were apprehended on Wednesday.

In a statement, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Nidhin Valsan said Mehtab was hiding under the Shadipur flyover and attempting to flee the city, when a police team approached him and a brief gunbattle ensued on Tuesday night, during which he sustained a bullet injury on his right leg.

He was arrested and taken to the RML hospital for treatment, and a separate case under the BNS and the Arms Act was also registered in connection with the firing incident, police said.

During interrogation, police found that the accused and the minors – all school dropouts from Farid Puri – operated as a group involved in theft and robbery, officials said, adding that two knives used in the crime, a country-made pistol, cartridges have been recovered from the arrested suspects.