Men who abducted, murdered of 18-year-old on suspicion of theft arrested

Police said the four men had gone to Kamla Market in central Delhi on January 30 night when someone pickpocketed Rana’s mobile and Rs 40,000 cash

Four men have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping and murdering an 18-year-old man from central Delhi last month, police said.

Four men have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping and murdering an 18-year-old man from central Delhi last month, police said(AFP)

Suspects Devvrat Rana (21), Gulshan (22), Sachin (22) and Gobinder Singh (22) allegedly abducted and beat up Shahzeb, an 18-year-old man living in the Jama Masjid neighbourhood, after suspecting him to be a thief.

Police said the four men had gone to Kamla Market in central Delhi on January 30 night when someone pickpocketed Rana’s mobile and Rs 40,000 cash. On suspicion, he caught Shahzeb from whom his mobile phone was allegedly recovered. But the cash was missing.

In rage, the four men beat him up and took him in a car towards Mukhmelpur village in northwest Delhi. On the way, they called Shahzeb’s friend and asked him to pay Rs. 40,000 to secure his release.

They also called Shahzeb’s mother but both said they had no money. The four men then pushed Shahzeb out of the car and fled from the spot. Shahzeb died during treatment at Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital in Rohini.

One of his relatives, Mohammad Anas, informed police that he had seen four persons beating Shahzeb and calling him a mobile thief. The relative also said he had seen Shahzeb being taken in a car.

Additional deputy commissioner of police (central) Anto Alphonse said that a case of murder and kidnapping was registered at the Kamla Market police station.

”CCTV footage of nearby areas was obtained. Four persons were seen dragging Shahzeb into a car. His mobile phone was analysed and we found out he was taken to Mukhmelpur village, near Alipur. The photos of suspects were shown to the local persons of both these places,” said Alphonso.

Police finally got a lead from a source and nabbed Rana on February 2. At his instance, Gulshan and Sachin were arrested from Delhi and Gobinder Singh was arrested from Chandigarh. The car used in the crime and the mobile phone of the victim has been recovered, police said.

Rana works as a driver with a businessman. Gulshan is a helper with a tanker of the Delhi Jal Board. Sachin runs a dairy. Gobinder Singh is a taxi driver, police said.