A 25-year-old woman was shot dead by two youths on a motorbike on the Ring Road in national capital New Delhi on Sunday evening, allegedly when she resisted their attempt to molest her.
The incident has once again confirmed Delhi's unsafe tag and raised questions on women's security in the city less than three months after the brutal gangrape of a paramedic student sparked nationwide outrage.
Police said the victim, a resident of Bhajanpura, was with her husband on the Ring Road in Sarai Kale Khan when the incident took place. An alert traffic constable caught the two youths on the spot. He snatched their weapon and informed the police immediately. The woman was rushed to AIIMS trauma Centre but was declared dead on arrival.
According to police officers, who received the call at 8.30 pm, the motorcycle borne men were drunk. They got off the motorcycle and allegedly attempted to molest the deceased.
"We received a phone call about woman being shot at by unknown assailants at 8:30 pm. Our men on ground were mobilised immediately and both the men were arrested on the spot," said a senior police officer. One of the assailants has been identified as Munshi Yadav from Bihar, he added.
Police also claimed that the victim and the assailant knew each other and the incident appeared to be a case of personal enmity. "He (Munshi) was allegedly under the influence of alcohol. He misbehaved with the woman and she objected to it. Enraged, he opened fire at her. She died on the spot," the officer said.
An eyewitness, identified as Rakesh Kumar, said he heard the woman and the assailant having an argument. Kumar said the attacker tried to escape but was chased and caught. He had a country made pistol. "We found some bullets from his pocket," he added. The police said the two men were being questioned.
However, south-east Delhi's ACP Ajay Chowdhary denied that it was a case of eve-teasing or molestation. He said the victim and the accused knew each other and their families also know each other.
"This matter is not related to eve teasing," he said.
