A taxi driver was allegedly held hostage and driven around central Delhi for nearly three hours by two youths, allegedly passing through six police barricades and making three rounds of the busy outer circle of Connaught Place undetected.
This, when the city is on a high alert ahead of Independence Day.
The harrowing incident unfolded on August 3 around 11 p.m. A police team later rescued the driver after he raised an alarm.
Delhi Police’s PCR unit issued a press release two days ago in which they claimed credit for rescuing the driver, Radhey Shyam, a resident of Faridabad.
Filling in the gaps
Talking to The Hindu on Sunday, Mr. Shyam narrated what the police, whether by omission or by design, chose not to mention in the press release.
Mr. Shyam said he was on his way to pick-up a passenger when two youths signalled him to stop the car on the pretext that they had run out of fuel in their two-wheeler in Shahdara.
“They asked me to drop them at a nearby petrol pump. I did not object. The youngster sitting in the back seat then took out a knife and threatened to kill me if I tried to raise an alarm,” said the victim. The other youth then took the wheel.
The next three hours were spent in anxiety and fear as policemen at multiple checkpoints in the wayward journey did not bother to stop the vehicle.
Mr. Shyam himself did not raise an alarm as he feared for his life, but believes that his ordeal could have ended much sooner had the police been a little more alert.
Police didn’t notice
The car was driven through Connaught Place, Red Fort and Karol Bagh for three hours. He was thrashed on the way as well.
“The robber who was driving my car took three rounds of Connaught Place’s outer circle and crossed six police barricades on the way to Red Fort, but not a single policeman stopped the car,” said the victim.
The youths also snatched Mr. Shyam’s two mobile phones and ₹1,200 in cash.
The robbers were finally caught when they stopped the car near an auto rickshaw at Red Fort and told Mr. Shyam to ask the auto driver about the route to G.B. Road.
Grabbing the opportunity, Mr. Shyam raised an alarm, which caught the attention of a PCR vehicle present nearby. The police personnel were able to rescue the victim and detain the robbers.