Neighbour’s bootlegging business worried deceased cop

The family members claimed Kumar had planned a celebration at home Sunday — it was his daughter Rajni’s first day of job

It had taken sub-inspector Raj Kumar a lot of effort to get a police post built near his home in Vivek Vihar’s Kasturba Nagar. His family members said Kumar pushed the police department to get it made because he was concerned about the rising cases of bootlegging in the area and wanted to initiate steps to maintain law and order.

The wife of Sub Inspector Raj Kumar who was killed on Sunday night after a fight with miscreants, grieves at Kasturba Nagar in Vivek Vihar, in New Delhi(Amal KS/ Hindustan Times)

However, when Kumar was assaulted allegedly by 28-year-old Vijay Bhuri, who has at least 21 cases of stalking, robbery, burglary and assault registered against him Sunday night, the police post was locked. “It was only in the morning that policemen unlocked the post,” Saroj, Kumar’s sister-in-law, said.

The family members claimed Kumar had planned a celebration at home Sunday — it was his daughter Rajni’s first day of job. Rajni, the second of three sisters and a law graduate, was out with his younger sister when she got a call that her father has died.

Kumar’s nephew, Niraj Verma, said his uncle often used to object to people drinking out in the open. “He used to have arguments with local men who would indulge in bootlegging,” Verma said.

DCP (Shahdara), Meghna Yadav, said, “In 2018, we came across 53 cases of illicit liquor with 20 cases of gambling. Seven incidents of narcotics were reported and action was taken in 12 cases of illegal arms possession.” So far in 2019, police have taken action in 28 cases of illicit liquor and four cases of gambling along with two cases of illegal arms and one of narcotics.

Residents of the area said police have failed to control the menace of bootlegging in the neighbourhood. Kumar’s friend, Anand Bhatnagar, said the area is not safe for women and children after dark. “Kumar paid a price for trying to make the area safer and ensure no illegal activity takes place,” Bhatnagar said.

DCP Yadav said, “If the residents are alleging callousness on police’s part, I am ready for an enquiry. There have been timely operations to curb the menace of bootlegging and maintain law and order in the area.”