‘Stalker’ shoots 18-year-old salesgirl in Gurgaon market

GURGAON: An 18-year-old salesgirl of a Patanjali store in Sector 21 was shot dead late Monday by a man who allegedly had been stalking her for the past few months.

The family members of Gunjan Dutt said a man named Pawan, alias Matru, had been harassing her for some time and they often asked him to stay away from her. Based on her family’s complaint, police have registered a case of murder against the man at Palam Vihar police station.

Police said Gunjan was leaving the shop when Pawan fired two shots at her from close range. Later, he fled the spot with his accomplice, who was waiting for him on a motorcycle.

An eyewitness later told police that not a single person came to help the girl as she lay injured for more than 20 minutes. It was only after the police arrived at the spot that the victim was taken to Columbia Asia hospital in Palam Vihar, where she succumbed to injuries an hour later.

She had been working part time at the Patanjali store for the last six months. In his complaint, Gunjan’s father Chander Dutt alleged that Pawan had been stalking his daughter for the past few months. He has also said Pawan had threatened his daughter in Chauma village market, and despite a complaint at the Bajghera police post, no action was taken. He also added that Pawan had been coaxing her to marry her and was infuriated by her refusal.