Man shot dead while trying to stop robbers on busy road
JAGRITI ENCLAVE He tried to stop the men who snatched a bag containing ₹8 lakh from a businessman’s employee; dozens of locals did not dare to intervene
NEW DELHI:: An attempt to catch two motorcycle-borne robbers, who were fleeing after snatching a bag containing about ₹8.30 lakh from the employee of a businessman, cost a 28-year-old Good Samaritan his life after he was shot allegedly by one of the robbers in east Delhi’s Jagriti Enclave near Anand Vihar Friday night.
The Good Samaritan, Mayank Gautam alias Mohit, worked as driver for a family living in a house close to the crime spot. The entire incident was captured in a CCTV camera i nstalled at Mohit’s employer’s house. The bullet pierced through Mohit’s abdomen and he died on the spot.
The robbers allegedly fled on their motorcycle with the cash bag even as a dozen of locals and passersby watched them collect the currency notes that fell on the road during a scuffle with Mohit.
The CCTV footage purportedly shows that the robbers comfortably picked up the scattered currency notes, put them back in their bag, start their motorcycle and speed away without any further confrontation from anybody. The suspects were there for almost a minute but the firing prevented further confrontation from anyone else.
Deputy commissioner of police (Shahdara) Meghna Yadav said around 8pm, one Surendra, an employee of Prateek Jain, a businessman dealing in copper and scrap, was attacked and robbed of a cash bag outside his office on the road going towards the Yamuna Sports Complex. Surendra had arrived at his employer’s office on a motorcycle after collecting cash from some clients in Dilshad Garden.
“Two motorcycle-borne men wearing helmets allegedly tried to snatch Surendra’s bag. When he resisted, one of them allegedly attacked his hand with a sharp weapon and snatched his bag,” said Yadav.
When the robbers tried to flee, Surendra raised an alarm, alerted his employer and colleagues, and started screaming to seek help, the police said. His screams drew the attention of some passersby and who also began started chasing the robbers. Two more men on another motorcycle were giving cover to the robbers. As there was a traffic jam on the road ahead, the robbers took a U-turn after riding for around 50 metres, eyewitnesses said.
Mohit’s employer, Sidharth Saluja, said Mohit had finished his day’s work and was about to leave for home when they heard a commotion outside.
“Mohit rushed out and blocked the suspects’ motorcycle by standing in front of it. He grabbed the robbed cash bag that the pillion rider was holding. As Mohit began pulling it, the bikers fell off their bike and some currency notes fell on the road,” Saluja said.
A security guard deployed at a nearby bungalow said Mohit pinned down one of the robbers and began punching him, even as the duo allegedly threatened to shoot him.
“Mohit’s courageous act motivated some onlookers and they joined him . Meanwhile, the other robber allegedly whipped out a pistol and shot Mohit in his abdomen from a close range. Mohit collapsed and hearing the gunshot the crowd dispersed,” said the guard, requesting annonymity.
The police said the robbers fled, even as around banknotes worth about ₹2 lakh remained scattered on the road. Mohit was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead. His family members were informed about his death. His body was handed over to his family after autopsy on Saturday.
Locals alleged that street crimes such as snatching and robbery have become quite common in their neighbourhood.
DCP Yadav said a case of murder and robbery was registered and several teams were formed to crack the case. NEWDELHI: While Mohit lost his life trying to catch two robbers, who allegedly shot him on a busy road in Delhi’s Jagriti Enclave, his 50-year-old father, Raj Kumar, was waiting for him to pick him up from a hospital where he had gone to get a date for a surgery for his fractured arm.
Raj was happy as doctors had agreed to the surgery on Saturday after many requests. However, life had something else in store for him. Instead of the hospital, Raj was busy completing formalities for his son’s autopsy at the Subzi Mandi mortuary and then his last rites, all with his fractured arm.
Mohit’s elder sister Shalu said her father’s arm was badly fractured when his scooter slipped on a road in Delhi’s Jheel Khuranja. A private hospital had demanded ₹70,000 for surgery.
“My father agreed to the surgery only when Mohit assured he will arrange the money, as it was beyond our budget. We did not know he will never return and will die saving the money of somebody unknown,” said Shalu.
Mohit lived with his parents and two other siblings in a rented flat in Jagatpuri. Although his heroic act was lauded by eyewitnesses and police, his death left his family numb and in grief, as they lost their main bread winner. “My father is injured and he may not be able to work again. Now that we have lost Mohit, we don’t know how we will arrange money for rent, food and other things. Who will bear expenses for our father’s surgery,” she added.