Auto driver asks for 160 fare, shot at `

An auto driver was shot at and injured by two passengers for asking for payment of fare in southwest Delhi’s Chhawla area late on Wednesday night.

Shot in the shoulder, the victim drove to a nearby hospital in his autorickshaw and got himself treated before calling the police. A case in this connection has been registered, but the assailants remain unidentified.

The 34- year- old victim, Umesh Pal, was waiting for passengers near Uttam Nagar bus terminal on Wednesday when two men

approached him. They wanted to be driven to Chhawla.

When Pal dropped the duo at their destination, they walked away without paying the fare which came up to ` 160. Pal followed them into a narrow lane before finally confronting them.

When he reminded them that they had not paid him, the men allegedly entered into an argument with him and warned him that it would be better for him to leave.

Pal told the police that he decided to persist, but it led to one of the suspects to beat him and try to strangle him.

The victim managed to get out of his grip and fight back, prompting the other person to pull out a pistol and shoot him.

Hit in the shoulder, Pal collapsed on the ground, providing the assailants an opportunity to flee with his money and mobile phone. Since there was no one nearby to help the victim, he got into his auto and drove himself to a hospital nearby where he was immediately attended by the emergency ward staff there. A subsequent surgery helped remove the bullet. The police said he is out of danger.

The hospital authorities informed the police that registered a case and began a probe.

The police is scanning CCTV footage near the spot where the assailants boarded the auto in a bid to get a clue about their identities.