Tension gripped Bhogal in Southeast Delhi on Monday night after three persons cut a 45-year-old man’s beard and hair before throwing acid on him.
After the incident, people belonging to a particular community gathered at the spot and near the Hazrat Nizamuddin police station and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.
To avoid any riot-like situation, all senior police officers of the district reached the spot and heavy police presence was deployed to thwart any untoward incident. The victim has been identified as Ranjit Singh, alias Pappu. He is an auto-rickshaw driver and stays in Bhogal with his family.
According to the police, at about 8.30 pm, Ranjit had gone to meet three men near the Blind School at Lodhi Road. One of them was reportedly known to Ranjit. “There an argument broke out between Ranjit and the three men after which, first, the assailants cut Ranjit’s hair and beard with a knife and then threw acid on him,” said the police, adding, “Ranjit suffered burns due to acid and he was rushed to the nearby hospital after a passerby made a call to the police control room.” He is now believed to be out of danger.
The police said that one of the three assailants was nabbed by the locals soon after the attack and he was handed over to the police. He is being interrogated. The police, however, didn’t confirm any arrest till Tuesday evening.
The police said that it was only after senior police officers reached the spot and assured prompt action that the angry crowd dispersed.
“He has suffered serious injuries on his body and is admitted to Intensive care unit (ICU) at a hospital. Police are doing nothing to arrest the accused. We don’t now who attacked my father, he has no enmity with anyone,” she said.
After the incident, the people of Bhogal, which is Sikh-dominated area, today staged protest against the incident and demanded immediate arrest of all the culprits.
Traders of Bhogal Market shut their shops to show their anger over the incident.
Security has been beefed up in and around the area to avoid any untoward incident.