Bus driver, cop hurt after two shootings near Andrews Ganj

Even as the Delhi Police maintain that the use of firearms by criminals reduced in 2020 as compared to 2019 – there were 672 cases in which firearms were used last year in comparison to 736 cases in 2019 – experts said the two incidents of firing in south Delhi show how Delhi’s criminals have easy access to illegal weapons.

Gunshots rang out in south Delhi on Wednesday morning as a 45-year-old contractual BSES driver and a policeman were injured in two incidents of firing within an hour in Andrews Ganj and Sadiq Nagar – both under the jurisdiction of the Defence Colony police station – triggering gun violence fears in the national capital.

During their annual press conference last month, Delhi Police said that crime in the city reduced last year. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Even as the Delhi Police maintain that the use of firearms by criminals reduced in 2020 as compared to 2019 – there were 672 cases in which firearms were used last year in comparison to 736 cases in 2019 – experts said the two incidents of firing in south Delhi show how Delhi’s criminals have easy access to illegal weapons.

The injured BSES driver was battling for his life at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). The police constable, injured in the second incident, was shot in his left thigh. The Delhi Police said the constable was shot at by two bikers who were out to commit a snatching but bumped into two policemen and fired a bullet in their attempt to flee. The two were later caught by the police.

In the first incident, around 9am, contractual BSES driver Bhimraj (identified by his first name in police records) was waiting for some officials of the power distribution company in his car outside the gate of the Andrews Ganj electricity grid office. An unidentified man approached him on a bike and fired a bullet from a distance of about 10 feet, according to investigations. The bullet hit Bhimraj’s neck and was lodged inside. By the time security guards and other BSES employees rushed outside after hearing the gunshot, the biker fled, police said.

Deputy commissioner of police (south) Atul Kumar Thakur said the police control room was informed about the firing incident at 9.11am and the injured man was shifted to AIIMS, where his condition was serious. The police have registered a case and the suspect was arrested on Wednesday evening.

“Prime facie, enmity appeared to be the motive behind the crime. We examined the footage of CCTVs installed on the route and it confirmed that before executing the crime, the suspect had conducted a reconnaissance of the area where the crime took place,” said DCP Thakur.

Bhimraj’s brother Shiv Charan said the attack on his brother could be connected to an incident that happened outside their house in Chirag Dilli 10 days ago. “Two-three young men from our neighbourhood were assaulting a scooter rider over some issue. My brother was returning home in his car when the scooter rider, who was trying to flee from those men, hit and damaged my brother’s car. My brother in response pushed his scooter and threw the rider’s helmet on the ground. I will not be surprised if my brother was attacked to take revenge of that small issue,” said Charan, adding that his brother’s condition was critical.

The police said that video footage showed the suspect had been following Bhimraj from outside his home.

“In a shocking incident, a driver was shot by unknown assailant near Andrews Ganj in South Delhi. He was taken to AIIMS, where his condition is reported to be critical. We are praying for his speedy recovery and are in touch with his family and the contractor to ensure the best possible medical treatment. We are also co-operating with the police in the investigation,” a BSES spokesperson said.

About an hour before Bhimraj was shot at, another firing took place on a service lane of the now-scrapped BRT Corridor. A constable was shot in his left thigh as he tried to nab two bike-borne assailants, the police said.

The police said at around 8am, constable Naveen of the Defence Colony station, was riding his private motorcycle when in the Sadiq Nagar neighbourhood he spotted two men riding a bike that did not have its front registration number plate, while the rear plate was also bent. Naveen started chasing the bike and also telephonically informed his colleague, constable Manish, to join him.

“As Naveen tried to nab the pillion rider, the suspect took out a countrymade firearm and shot him in his left thigh. When the duo tried to escape, constable Manish entered the service road, hit their motorcycle with his police bike. The two fell off their bike. Despite being hit in his thigh, Naveen rushed and overpowered the suspects along with Manish,” said DCP Thakur, adding the injured constable was shifted to AIIMS Trauma Centre, where his condition was stable.

DCP Thakur said that the suspects, later identified as Dharmender, 29, and Navdeep, 20, from Badarpur, were arrested for attempt to murder and obstructing public servants from performing their duties. Dharmender was previously involved in two cases of theft and Arms Act, while Navdeep has one police case against him.

During their annual press conference last month, Delhi Police said that crime in the city reduced last year. The police also cited data of the number of distress calls made to the police control room, which showed a reduction in calls related to snatching, robbery and other heinous crimes, compared to 2019. In terms of crimes registered, snatching cases rose from 6,266 in 2019 to 7,965 in 2020.

Experts said that incidents such as the two firings on Wednesday show how criminals have easy access to illegal arms. In 2020, police recovered 2,735 illegal firearms and at least 5,138 bullets. The police said the illegal guns were manufactured in parts of western Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.

Vikram Singh, former chief of the Uttar Pradesh police, said: “The two firing incidents are indicative of how people can move with impunity and that too with illegitimate firearms. Firing at will is also indicative of a horrible surveillance system and a check that is most necessary in respect of bad characters, illegal firearms and also the nakabandi that should be in progress.”