Murder, uproar, protest and roadblocks rock Ghazipur

A 32-year-old man was shot dead allegedly by a group of men in east Delhi's Ghazipur early Monday, triggering a series of events that eventually caused severe traffic congestion on three arterial interstate highways during peak Monday morning rush, gravely inconveniencing commuters, office-goers and students appearing for their board exams.

- Hemani Bhandari and Karn Pratap Singh

NEW DELHI:

According to police, while the family has claimed that he was killed because he objected to the illicit sale of diesel by his colleagues, police maintained that a monetary dispute was the reason for the murder.

Two men were arrested in connection with the murder, senior officers said.

Deputy commissioner of police (east) Abhishek Dhania said the victim was identified as Rohit Singh, 32, a resident of Ghazipur village who worked for a private contractor, and the arrested men were identified as Nazim Khan, 40, and Talib Khan, 24.

According to police, their control room received a call around 3.30 a.m. from Lal Bahadur Shastri hospital about a man being brought in with a gunshot wound.

When police reached the spot, they were informed that the man was brought to the hospital by his cousin Akash Singh and he succumbed during treatment.

Singh's uncle Satbir Singh, 49, said Rohit's office was near the Ghazipur landfill.

"On Sunday evening, he came to know that a few of his colleagues were selling diesel illegally. He and his colleagues had a violent fight over this near his office," Satbir said.

"Akash Singh said he and Rohit were returning after collecting diesel from somewhere near the dumping yard around 3 a.m. when, near Phool Mandi, Rohit was shot by a group of men who came in a car. Based on this information, a case was registered on charges of murder," said an officer, asking not to be named.