Rickshaw driver axes neighbour to death over suspected affair with wife

The accused is absconding. Police are conducting searches in Noida and Greater Noida areas.

A 35-year-old e-rickshaw driver has been booked for allegedly killing a 28-year-old man with an axe in Sector 13 of Noida on Saturday afternoon. Police said the accused suspected that the victim and his wife were in a relationship.

A policeman talks to neighbours of the victim who alerted the police about the incident.

The police have booked Vijay Shankar, a resident of Sector 13, for the murder of his neighbour Jai Mangal, a daily wage earner on Saturday afternoon.

Shankar was reported absconding till reports last came in. The police have formed patrol parties to arrest him, and conducting searches in Noida and Greater Noida areas.

The incident took place around 2pm on Saturday when the victim named had come home to have lunch.

“When Mangal returned to him home around 2pm to have lunch, Shankar was waiting for him with an axe. As Mangal was busy washing his hands in the washbasin,

“Shankar hit Mangal’s head with the axe when the victim was washing hands. As Mangal collapsed, bleeding profusely, Shankar fled,” Expressway station house officer Vedpal Singh said.

Neighbours alerted the police about the incident.

A team from Expressway police station reached the spot and took possession of the body after neighbours informed the police about the incident. Mangal was rushed a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead.

“We have sent the body for an autopsy. Doctors said the cause of death was excess loss of blood,” Vedpal said.

Shankar’s wife claimed that she would often get into fights with her husband over Mangal, as Shankar suspected her to be in a relationship with the victim.

“Shankar had been planning to eliminate Mangal for a long time and got the opportunity on Saturday. He attacked Mangal and fled the spot. We have registered an FIR against Shankar under Section 302 ( Murder) of the Indian Penal Code and have formed teams to nab him,” Vedpal said.