Hindustan Times (Delhi)

Moments before death caught in pics

ACCIDENT? Man killed in Outer Delhi while clicking photos with a gun, police say death ‘accidental’ but family cries foul

- Shiv Sunny shiv.sunny@hindustant­imes.com

NEW DELHI: Police on Friday suggested that the man shot dead in outer Delhi’s Vijay Vihar might have been killed ‘accidental­ly’ even as the family suggested foul play. Police, however, clarified that they were investigat­ing the case and have not yet ruled out the foul play angle.

Vijay Singh, a 23-year-old resident of Vijay Vihar, was found dead inside his residence with a gunshot wound to the back of his neck on Thursday night. Vijay’s mobile later showed photos of him and his friend, Monu, posing with a gun before the fatal shot was fired, said Rajneesh Gupta, DCP (Rohini).

“The pistol was found lying next to Vijay’s body. A magazine was found elsewhere in the room. So, it is possible that a bullet was in the chamber of the weapon, even though the men thought it was unloaded. But, we haven’t ruled out the possibilit­y of the magazine being removed after the firing,” said the DCP.

A native of Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan, Vijay is among five siblings and lived with his uncle’s family in Vijay Vihar. “He was unemployed and was was trying to get a salaried job for sometime,” said Vijay’s aunt, Nirmala.

Monu, Vijay’s friend from the same neighbourh­ood, was a regular visitor to their home. “On Thursday night, Monu whipped out a pistol that he had hidden and got in his pants. He flashed it before me and walked straight into Vijay’s room,” said Vijay’s 12-year-old cousin.

Vijay’s cousin and her 10-yearold brother were in the living room when the firing happened. “My brother and I were playing games on the mobile. In the other room, Vijay and Monu were playing with the gun. From their conversati­ons, I could make out that they were also taking photos with the gun,” said the girl.

Minutes later, the girl heard a loud bang and rushed into the room to find Vijay slumped on the floor next to a bed. “He had been shot in the lower back of his head. Monu then pushed me and ran away,” said the girl.

The girl then alerted her parents who rushed to the room, loaded a motionless Vijay on a scooter and rushed him to Dr BSR Ambedkar Hospital nearby, where he was declared brought dead.when police arrived and checked Vijay’s phone, they found over half-a-dozen photos he and Monu had taken with the gun, allegedly in the few minutes preceding the death. A case in this connection has been registered at Vijay Vihar police station and a search initiated for Monu, said the DCP. “There will be more clarity on the sequence of events once we nab Monu and obtain forensic reports,” said the DCP. The men loudly talk about clicking photos with the gun. The children outside later hear a loud bang. The children call their parents and inform them about the incident. Vijay Singh’s friend Monu visits his flat in Vijay Vihar on Thursday. Vijay’s cousins are busy playing mobile games in the living room. Vijay’s cousin runs to the room to find him lying in a pool of blood near the bed. Vijay has sustained a gunshot to his neck. A motionless Vijay is then loaded on to a scooter and rushed to a hospital, where he is declared dead on arrival. Monu goes to Vijay’s room. He whips out a gun with which he wants to pose and click photos. Monu, on seeing Vijay’s cousin, gets up, pushes her away and bolts out of the room. He flees the house, leaving the gun behind.

The police arrive at the scene and find a pistol lying at the crime spot. They then check Vijay’s phone to find many photos of the duo posing with the pistol, right before it apparently went off.

 ?? Budh Vihar Avantika DELHI Rithala Sector 4 Mangolpuri
Sector 3 Naharpur
Outer Ring Road Illustrati­on: MOHIT SUNEJA ??
Budh Vihar Avantika DELHI Rithala Sector 4 Mangolpuri Sector 3 Naharpur Outer Ring Road Illustrati­on: MOHIT SUNEJA
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