A Delhi Police constable allegedly opened fire using his colleague’s service revolver at a wedding reception after a brawl over clicking the pictures of the couple in north-east Delhi’s Karawal Nagar on Saturday night, the police said on Sunday. The constable and his colleague have been arrested.
The groom’s two cousins were reportedly injured in the incident but are out of danger, said a police officer. The groom and the constable are neighbours, and the accused was at the reception venue as a guest along with his colleague, an Assistant Sub-Inspector.
DCP (North-East) A.K. Singla said, “Constable Naeem Khan, who is posted with the Special Cell, used his colleague’s service revolver to fire three shots.” Mr. Khan was caught by the public, thrashed and handed over to the police. He has been booked for attempt to murder.
“His colleague Assistant Sub-Inspector Irtkhab Alam, who is also posted with the Special Cell, has also been arrested and the weapon used has been seized,” said Mr. Singla.
The officer said Mr. Alam called the police control room after the shooting and lied saying that his weapon discharged accidentally as it was being snatched by the crowd. “He willingly gave the pistol to Mr. Khan,” said Mr. Singla, adding both of them are in the process of being dismissed from the Delhi Police.
The injured persons have been identified as Manoj Gupta and Pooja Gupta, cousins of groom Mahesh Gupta.
While Mr. Manoj Gupta was hit in the hand, Ms. Gupta was wounded in the leg, said Mr. Singla.
An investigator said an unknown person taking photographs of the couple triggered the shooting. “The couple noticed an unknown person taking their pictures. The groom found it objectionable and requested his constable friend to check the unknown photographer’s credentials,” said the investigator.
“The constable questioning the photographer resulted in a heated exchange. Meanwhile, the groom’s cousin, Mr. Manoj Gupta, claimed the photographer was his friend. The constable then started quarrelling with Mr. Manoj Gupta, during which the policeman claimed he was slapped. Guests present separated the duo,” said the investigator.
‘Ego hurt’
His “ego hurt” because of the slap, the constable allegedly returned 10-15 minutes later with Mr. Alam’s revolver. “It was discovered later that he had used Mr. Alam’s service revolver. The circumstances under which the Assistant Sub-Inspector gave him his service pistol are being investigated,” said Mr. Singla. The constable allegedly fired three rounds at the crowd without a warning.
