Delhi: 25-year-old, involved with Ram Mandir collection-drive, stabbed to death
A 25-year-old man was stabbed outside his home in Mangolpuri, Delhi, on Wednesday and died around noon yesterday. The deceased, identified as Rinku Sharma, was murdered over a business rivalry, claimed police but his family refuted this theory. Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) alleged that his involvement with the Ram Mandir collection drive got him killed. Four accused — Zahid, Mehtaab, Danish, and Islam — were arrested.
Armed with knives and sticks, assailants knocked on his door
Sharma lived with his parents in K-Block, Mangolpuri, and was employed as a lab technician at a hospital in Paschim Vihar. His brother Ankit told TOI that late on Wednesday night, the accused knocked on their door. They were armed with knives and sticks. Another brother, Manu, said the assailants were looking for Sharma and eventually dragged him out of the house.
He was hit with sticks, stabbed with large knife
The men then assaulted Sharma, hit him with sticks, before stabbing him with a large knife. Images that surfaced on social media showed a knife being stuck in Sharma's back. He was rushed to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital where the doctors took out the weapon. However, his condition deteriorated and he was referred to another facility. Sharma breathed his last before he was even shifted.
Brother claimed accused reached the hospital as well
Ankit claimed that the attackers also intercepted the family on their way to the hospital; they even reached the health facility. According to police, a business rivalry had laid roots for this gruesome murder. Sharma and his friends as well as the accused had opened eateries in Rohini Sector 2 last year. After none of their businesses flourished, they blamed one another, reports IE.
All other rumors are false: Senior cop
Additional DCP (Outer) Sudhanshu Dhama claimed that both sides got engaged in a nasty fight at a birthday party on Wednesday. After the brawl, Sharma and the accused went to their respective homes. "But the four accused went to the victim's place later," he said. A fight ensued and Sharma was stabbed by one accused, the cop revealed, dismissing other "rumors" about the murder.
Sharma had organized Ram Mandir event, allegedly irking the accused
Although police pointed toward business rivalry, Sharma's kin challenged this theory with Manu asserting "we have no eatery business." "We have been having issues with the accused since last year. In August, we organized a small event for Ram Mandir. They were angered by this but we ignored them," Manu said. Sharma also donated blood when one family member of the accused was pregnant.
The accused beat me up, harassed my parents: Manu
Manu, who is reportedly a VHP member, recounted that Sharma had wanted him to lock all doors that day. "Before I could do so, a group of men came to our house and thrashed us with lathis. They beat me up and harassed my parents," he added. In a statement, VHP claimed Sharma was killed as he collected money for the Ram Mandir.
He participated in the Ram Mandir fund collection program: VHP
"His brother is part of the VHP youth wing and Rinku Sharma was actively participating in the Ram Mandir fund collection program, (sic)" said Vinod Bansal, the National Spokesperson of VHP. The outfit has demanded the strictest punishment for the accused.
