24-year-old stabbed 8 times for ₹500

ARGUMENT ROSE OVER PURCHASE OF PHONE WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE ‘STOLEN’; VICTIM WANTED HIS MONEY RETURNED

NEW DELHI: A man out on bail in a robbery case allegedly murdered a 24-year-old following a fight over ₹500 in east Delhi’s Kalyanpuri on Tuesday night -- just a day before the victim’s wedding anniversary on Eid-ul-zuha.

Within an hour of the murder, police caught the suspect and his minor brother from a bus stop when they were planning to flee the city. Another suspect was arrested early Wednesday.

The deceased, Shahrukh Khan, a resident of block 21 in Kalyanpuri, was a tailor. Police said Khan had bought a phone for ₹500 a few weeks ago from the suspect, Khalid Mohammad (24), who lives nearby. Recently, Khan came to know that the phone was a stolen one and asked Mohammad to return his money.

“A heated argument between them turned violent. Mohammad was accompanied by his 17-yearold brother and friend, Mukesh Kumar (23). While the other two overpowered Khan, Mohammad took out a knife and stabbed him eight times in his chest and abdomen. As Khan cried for help, they fled, leaving him bleeding,” said a senior police officer, not authorised to speak to the media.

Neighbours and family members said the murder took place in a dark lane near the house. Khan’s sister Shabnoor, who lives next door, stepped out of her house to check when she heard some noise, and found Khan lying on the ground. She then called up the police and reported her brother’s murder.

The police rushed Khan to a nearby hospital where doctors pronounced him dead. Deputy commissioner of police (east), Pankaj Kumar Singh, said a case of murder was registered under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and raids were conducted to nab the suspects.

“Based on the statements of locals and witnesses, we zeroed in on the suspects. Khalid and his younger brother were held in an hour from a nearby bus stand, from where they were planning to go to the Inter-state Bus Terminal. They admitted to killing Khan. Mukesh was also arrested,” the DCP said. He said Mohammad was arrested in a robbery case in 2015 and was out on bail. A resident of the area, Raziya, also alleged that Mohammad had stabbed her husband following an argument a month ago.

“We had filed a police complaint,” she said.