Boy killed for screwdriver

After being denied a screwdriver, four men stabbed a 17-year-old boy to death in Jaffrabad area of northeast Delhi, police said. HT reports.

After being denied a screwdriver, four men stabbed a 17-year-old boy to death in Jaffrabad area of northeast Delhi, police said.

HT Image

The incident was reported around 9 pm on Monday. The deceased identified as Bilal, and his elder brother Afzal, 22, were at their mobile phone shop when four people entered the premises and asked them for a screw driver.

"The elder brother told them that he did not have the screwdriver and engaged in an argument with the four men. Bilal who was also in the shop and tried to pacify the situation. Soon the arguments went out of control and Bilal was stabbed to death," said a senior police officer. The elder brother- Afzal was also critically injured and is battling for his life at a city hospital.

"It was only that he said that he did not have a screw driver that he was killed," said Raj Khan, Bilal's father.

"We rushed them to Jag Pravesh Hospital where Bilal was brought dead," said the officer.

Afzal was rushed to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital. His condition is still critical.

"The family members of the deceased called up Police Control Room (PCR)," said the officer.

"A case has been registered and we are investigating into the matter. Till now, no arrests have been made and we are waiting to record the statement of Afzal," added the officer.

"They killed Bilal in front of me. As soon we reached there, they fled from the spot," said Wasimuddin, uncle of the deceased. The family members told the police that the accused work in some factory at Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh.

Bilal's death comes on the heels of the 519 murders reported in the Capital last year, which were because of sudden provocation on trivial issues.

The "trivial" reasons for murder last year included issue of burning fire crackers in a marriage, dispute during cricket match, quarrel among children, taking water from pipeline, on lighting beedi at a shop and over refusal of serving a particular brand of wine.