Shooter bought gun for celebratory firing, cops told
NEW DELHI: Twenty-three year old Kapil Gujjar, who on Saturday opened fire less than 150 metres away from the Shaheen Bagh protest site, has told investigators he purchased the countrymade pistol seven years ago for “celebratory firing” during his brother’s wedding.
He, however, claimed that he does not remember the name of the person from whom he purchased it, or how much he paid, the police said on Sunday.
“Gujjar revealed that he had last used the pistol for celebratory firing at his brother’s wedding. Thereafter, he hid it in his home and did not use it before
Saturday. He is not giving any satisfactory response on how he procured three bullets, and who the person was from whom he bought the pistol,” said an investigator who did not want to be identified.
Gujjar’s father, Choudhary Gaje Singh, claimed that he and his family members were unaware that he had the pistol.
The police on Sunday produced Gujjar before an additional chief metropolitan magistrate and secured his custody for two days, saying he needed to be interrogated to identify and arrest the person who gave him the gun.
Later in the day, the case was transferred to the crime branch, to whom Gujjar was handed for further questioning.
Investigators said that though Gujjar denied having links with any political groups, they suspect he may have been instigated to carry out the shooting.
MOTIVATION
The police believe Gujjar may have been motivated by the Thursday’s firing incident outside nearby Jamia Millia Islamia, where a 17-year-old boy fired at protesters, injuring a student.
Gujjar reportedly told the interrogators that the protests had been affecting his milk supply business.
“He claims his business was hit and he was suffering losses as on the milk would often be spoiled because of the delay,” a police officer said.
Asked how Gujjar managed to reach near the protest venue with a gun despite the police deployment, additional DCP (southeast) Kumar Gyanesh said, “He walked through sub-lanes to reach there.”