New Delhi, April 28 (IANS) A junk dealer’s drunk employee was arrested for murdering a neighbour in Begumpur village in south Delhi, an incident that followed an altercation with the victim a few hours before the incident on Monday night, the police said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, South District, Anant Mittal, said that Rakesh Kumar alias Kaily, 25, originally from Bihar, was arrested after he delivered fatal blows to Shatrughan’s neck with a wooden stick around 1 a.m. and fled.

Shatrughan died on the way to the hospital, and Malviya Nagar Police subsequently arrested Rakesh, he said.

On Tuesday, the accused was produced in a court, which sent him to judicial custody, the police said.

Investigation revealed that the accused had consumed alcohol and used the deceased’s mobile phone, leading to an altercation. Though the matter was initially resolved and both parties were pacified, the accused later assaulted the deceased while he was asleep, the police said.

The incident was brought to the notice of the police through a PCR call by complainant Ranjit Yadav on the intervening night of April 27-28 about a murder at Jhuggi T-5B, Gatta Godown, opposite Badi Masjid, Begumpur, under police station Malviya Nagar.

Yadav told police that after work and dinner by labourers, a quarrel took place between Shatrughan and Rakesh, which was resolved through the intervention of others present at the spot.

Around 1 a.m., when Shatrughan was asleep, Rakesh came towards him with a wooden stick and struck him on his neck, causing a commotion in the colony, Yadav told police.

The injured was shifted to AIIMS Hospital, where he was declared “brought dead,” the police said.

The Crime Team inspected the scene and conducted necessary proceedings. Based on the statement of the complainant, MLC, and the circumstances, a case under suitable sections was registered at Police Station Malviya Nagar.

Thereafter, a hunt was launched for Rakesh, and he was arrested, the police said.

Rakesh is originally a resident of village Sosarai, Police Station Sosarai, District Nalanda, Bihar, police said.

He is unlettered and has been residing in Delhi for the past 6–7 years along with his brother and is engaged in scrap work in Begumpur under a contractor residing at Jhuggi No. T-5B, police said.

–IANS

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