24yearold stabbed 8 times for ₹500 in east Delhi’s Kalyanpuri Wedding anniversary turns into mourning
CRIME CAPITAL 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. NEW DELHI: Komal Kohli, 21, remembers the day when she got married to Shahrukh Khan on the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-zuha four years ago. She could have never known their inter-faith marriage would come to such a tragic end just a day ahead of the same festival.
Komal and Khan had decided to marry after a year of relationship. She clearly remembers how it was not easy for her to convince her parents. After their marriage in 2014, Kohli’s in-laws gave her a new name, Taufia Khan.
Just a year later, in 2015, Komal and Khan lost their first son when he was just three months old. He died of illness. In 2017, she gave birth to another son.
Komal rued how tragedy struck her family when things were once again going fine and she had just about managed to overcome the grief of her first son’s demise.
On Tuesday, the entire family was in a mood of celebration and festivity when the incident took place.
“I was preparing to celebrate my marriage anniversary. My mother-in-law’s brother had bought a goat for Eid. We all had put in money to raise a sum of ₹10,000. We were yet to begin with our celebrations when we heard Khan’s cries from outside,” Komal said.
Kohli said she was initially not allowed to go out. “My in-laws tried to keep me away from the body as they thought I would not be able to bear the shock. Initially, I was told there was some fight between neighbours. Only when I stepped out I realised that my husband had been killed,” she said.
“We have an eight-month-old son. “How will I bring him up alone? Who would take care of the family’s finances?” she asked.
Khan’s sister Shabnoor, who stays in a nearby house, said she saw the three accused holding her brother before stabbing him.
“I was in the balcony when I heard my brother crying for help. They were in a lane where there’s no light. I could see three men pouncing upon one but I realised its Shahrukh only when the trio fled from the spot. I shouted and called our parents and brother for help. I called up the police and reported the matter,” she said.