Police yet to make headway in dance teacher’s murder

NEWDELHI: The Delhi Police is yet to make a headway in the murder of 20-year-old dance instructor, Avinash Sangwan, who was allegedly shot dead minutes after he reportedly made fun of a man for his dance steps during a religious procession in the heart of the national capital on Wednesday night. The suspect, whose identity is yet to be ascertained, had left the place after being mocked by Avinash, returned with his two friends and allegedly shot the dance instructor in the chest, according to the police.

“Some people have been rounded up in connection with the case. We are analysing the video clips to ascertain the identity of the suspects. They will be nabbed soon,” said Devesh Chandra Shrivastava, joint commissioner of police.

An onlooker, who was recording people dancing on the street near a temple in central Delhi, captured the moments after the shot was fired. Many people around Avinash hadn’t realised that the dance instructor had been shot. It is only when the dance instructor took off his T-shirt after feeling the blood on his chest that people realised what had happened.

Avinash’s friend, Nikhil Sangwan, also a dance teacher, told the police that they were dancing outside the Valmiki temple at Mandir Marg as part of the Valmiki Jayanti celebrations. Nikhil told police that he and his friends, including Avinash, were dancing near the temple when they noticed a wellbuilt man also dancing.

Avinash reportedly mocked the stranger about his dance steps. The man came towards Avinash and pushed him away angrily. He seemed to have left but returned soon enough. The three sensed trouble and this time, Avinash ignored him and asked his friends to move away.