19yearold shoots undertrial dead in Rohini court premises

UNSAFE COURTS Accused in a cheating case shot dead by a ‘contract killer’, accused held; second such case in same court premises in eight months, lawyers allege lax security

NEW DELHI : An undertrial was shot dead on the Rohini Court premises in northwest Delhi when he was returning after a hearing on Monday morning -the second such incident in the court in eight months.

The shooter, who managed to smuggle in a gun despite security, was arrested from the spot. He told the police that he was hired to execute the murder.

Till Monday evening, the police had not disclosed the name of the conspirator or the motive behind the murder of 31-year-old Vinod, a Mangolpuri resident, who was produced before the court in a cheating case registered in 2010. The police did not provide his last name.

Police said the shooter was later identified as 19-year-old Abdul Khan, a resident of Nangloi in outer Delhi.

Around 11.20am, Vinod and a policeman escorting him, ASI Balram, had just stepped out of the main building and were heading towards the court lock-up when Khan allegedly approached them. He stopped next to them, took out a pistol and allegedly shot Vinod, police said.

An eyewitness said Balram immediately rushed towards the shooter. Hearing the gunshot, policemen from the Rohini court police post also reached the spot and caught Khan who had already dropped his weapon by then. An eyewitness, a policeman himself, said Khan did not say anything nor did he resist.

The police seized the murder weapon and rushed an injured Vinod to the nearby Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital in Rohini where he was declared brought dead. His post-mortem will be conducted on Tuesday.

DCP (Rohini) Rishi Pal said Khan told them it was allegedly a contract killing, for which he was provided money and the gun. Khan, who is married, had told his family members that he was a driver. Pal said police are yet to find any criminal record of Khan.

The case for which Vinod was taken to the court pertains to an alleged fraud in the sale and purchase of a property in Rohini. He was arrested on September 30, after remaining untraceable for over seven years.

Police sources said they were looking into the role of a second suspect, who reportedly came to the court premises with the accused and identified the victim.

The incharge of security of Rohini court, sub-inspector Narender,

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Subinspector Narender, incharge of security at Rohini court, has been suspended and the SHO of Prashant Vihar police station sent to district lines. RISHI PAL, deputy commissioner of police, Rohini

has been suspended and the station house officer of the Prashant Vihar police station has been sent to district lines, which means he will not be given any responsibility pending further inquiry, Pal said.

Seven months ago, a similar case of shooting was reported from the Rohini court when a 38-year-old alleged member of Neeraj Bawana gang was gunned down by two people outside gate number 3 of the court. He, too, was an undertrial.

In December 2015, a head constable of Delhi Police was killed and three others injured after four assailants opened fire inside a courtroom at Karkardooma Court Complex in east Delhi.