Air prank turns fatal, 1 dead

NEW DELHI: A 40-year-old factory worker died after his colleague directed an air jet from a high pressure pipe into his anus in outer Delhi’s Nangloi, police said on Friday.

Deputy commissioner of police (outer) MN Tiwari said the “accident” occurred on Wednesday morning and the victim, who was identified only by his first name Ravinder, died due to damage to his intestines on Thursday.

A case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder has been registered at Nangloi police station and the accused, identi- fied as Pandit, has been arrested, said the DCP. “Pandit has claimed the incident was a prank gone wrong. Our probe so far hasn’t pointed to any foul motive,” the DCP added.

Ravinder lived in Nangloi’s Swarn Park area with his family and worked at a plywood factory there. “When Ravinder arrived at work on Wednesday morning, Pandit noticed that his trousers were torn in the rear,” said the DCP.

Pandit, with the intention of playing a prank, allegedly picked up a high pressure pipe and directed the air jet towards the hole in Ravinder’s trousers. “It wasn’t as if Ravinder was pinned down on the ground and the air forced into his body. However the prank left him with intense abdomen pain,” said the DCP.

Ravinder was hospitalised, but allegedly did not mention the incident to the doctors. “When he was informed that he would have to undergo a surgery, he panicked and revealed the incident,” said the officer.

Ravinder succumbed to the injuries on Thursday. Police said that though doctors are yet to clarify the precise cause of death, it is believed that the prank had damaged his intestines. Pandit and other workers were questioned, after which the accused was arrested.