A Delhi Jal Board employee was stabbed to death by motorcycle-borne men in north-west Delhi late on Friday.
Identified as Bharat Bhushan, 36, the victim was initially involved in a quarrel with his two colleagues before he ended up fighting with four motorcycle-borne men who tried to intervene.
He was stabbed twice in his thigh and died of excessive bleeding. His family members alleged that delayed response by the police resulted in his death.
The incident took place in Ashok Vihar between 11 pm and midnight. A resident of outer Delhi’s Alipur, Bhushan worked as a Beldar at a DJB office in Ashok Vihar.
“Around 10 pm, they received a complaint about a fault in the water supply. Bhushan and his two colleagues Bhagwan Das and Gajendra Pal were tasked with the repair work,” said a senior police officer. The three were already drunk when they left for the spot, said the officer, adding that they consumed another bottle on the way there.
After the repair work, they were returning to the office when Das demanded more alcohol. The other two, however, refused. Das then refused to enter the work van and started walking back to the office while his colleagues followed him in their vehicle. “On the way, the duo again insisted that he hop into the vehicle. When Das refused to comply, they got out of their vehicle and tried to force him inside,” said the officer.
Das started screaming on the road, which drew the attention of four youths passing by on two motorcycles.
Apparently believing that Das was being kidnapped, they tried to intervene, but were verbally abused by Bhushan who asked them to leave.
The riders entered into a scuffle with Bhushan and stabbed him in his thigh before fleeing. Frightened, Pal and Das drove away from the scene, leaving a bleeding Bhushan behind.
Police said Bhushan was found by a local who rushed him to a nearby hospital before informing the police.
“Since the victim’s condition had already deteriorated, he was referred to Sushruta Trauma Centre where he succumbed around 4.30 am on Saturday,” said the officer. A murder case has been registered and investigations are on. The victim’s family, meanwhile, protested with the body near DJB office in Jhandewalan on Saturday.
