Delhi gang kills e-rickshaw driver with spiked cold drink, steals vehicle
Three men have been arrested for allegedly killing an e-rickshaw driver after giving him a spiked cold drink and stealing his vehicle and mobile phone in Delhi, news agency Press Trust of India reported, citing police.
The accused β two brothers and their cousin β allegedly ran a gang that targeted e-rickshaw drivers across the city. Police recovered 10 e-rickshaws, including the victim's vehicle, and 47 tools, including screwdrivers and a grinder, from them.
The arrested men were identified as brothers Zakir, alias Sultan, and Asif, aged 30 and 26, respectively, and their 39-year-old cousin Yousuf, alias Bhure. Yousuf allegedly received the stolen e-rickshaws.
Police received information on October 27 about an unidentified man lying unconscious in Mangolpuri. The man was identified as Akash, a resident of the area, and taken to Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, where he died during treatment.
An inquiry found that Akash worked as an e-rickshaw driver on the route between P-Block, Mangolpuri Red Light and Sultanpuri. He had left home for work on October 26, but his mobile phone became unreachable at around 5 pm that day.
After an autopsy at LNJP Hospital, police registered an FIR under Section 105 of the BNS, which deals with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and began an investigation. Officers examined CCTV footage, reconstructed Akash's movements and analysed technical evidence to trace his route before and after the incident.
The investigation led police to Zakir, who was arrested in Jafrabad. During questioning, he allegedly disclosed that he and Asif identified e-rickshaw drivers, offered them cold drinks mixed with sedatives or tablets, and stole their belongings and vehicles, police told PTI.
The brothers allegedly used the same method to target Akash. After stealing e-rickshaws, they would change the number plates and hand the vehicles over to Yousuf, who rented them out, police said.
Zakir was previously involved in a case registered at Bhajanpura Police Station under the BNS and the Arms Act, while Yousuf had been booked at Jafrabad Police Station. Asif has no previous criminal involvement. The recovered e-rickshaws had been stolen from different parts of the city, according to police.
Police said the three men targeted e-rickshaw drivers with spiked drinks, stole their vehicles and belongings, changed the number plates and rented out the e-rickshaws. Akash died after allegedly being targeted by the gang.- Ends
