A 44-year-old man allegedly killed an assistant sub-inspector during a monetary dispute, before fatally shooting himself in an auto-rickshaw in full public view in northeast Delhi’s Nand Nagari area, police said.
Mukesh Kumar, a contractual employee of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, also fired at the auto-rickshaw driver, who fortunately escaped unhurt, they said. Additionally, a scooter rider was injured in the gunfire.
The incident occurred around 11:40 am at the Meet Nagar flyover, resulting in the death of ASI Dinesh Sharma (56), officials said. Mukesh had borrowed Rs 5 lakh from Sharma for a business three years prior and failed to repay the loan, they added.
According to police, the ASI came to collect Rs 25,000 from Mukesh, sparking an argument between them.
“It is suspected that Mukesh Kumar had intentions to harm Sharma, as he possessed a sophisticated country-made pistol,” a police officer said.
After the altercation, Mukesh brandished the weapon and shot Sharma dead on the spot. Sharma received two bullets, while another hit scooterist Amit Kumar (30), who happened to be passing nearby, the officer said.
“On Tuesday, Mukesh Kumar arranged to meet Sharma near the flyover, promising to repay Rs 25,000,” the officer added.
An eyewitness stated that Mukesh first shot Sharma and then injured Amit, who sustained a leg injury. Subsequently, Mukesh boarded the auto-rickshaw, urging the driver to depart from the scene.
“However, the driver declined, and the assailant fired at him, but he managed to escape unscathed. When a crowd began to gather, Mukesh shot himself inside the auto-rickshaw,” the eyewitness said.
Another officer mentioned that a 7.65 mm pistol was recovered from the auto’s rear seat. “Multiple live rounds and spent shells were also found at three different locations on the flyover.”
Additional Commissioner of Police (eastern range) Sagar Kalsi stated that a financial dispute between Sharma and Mukesh precipitated the incident.
“We are probing what prompted Mukesh Kumar to kill Sharma and where he obtained the weapon. Statements from the families of both the deceased are being recorded,” he said.
Kalsi confirmed that a case under IPC sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempted murder) and the Arms Act has been filed based on Amit’s complaint.
Amit, who was initially taken to a nearby hospital, has been transferred to AIIMS for further treatment. He works as a lift mechanic in Gurugram.
ASI Sharma, residing in GTB Nagar, is survived by his wife and four children, while Mukesh resided in Nand Nagari’s JJ Colony with his wife and teenage daughter.
Police stated that the bodies of both deceased individuals have been released to their families following the postmortem examination. (With inputs from PTI)
