Man shot in road rage incident near Delhi's Azadpur Mandi; one held

New Delhi, Jul 16 (PTI) A road rage incident between occupants of two cars escalated into firing in northwest Delhi, leaving a 24-year-old man injured, while a traffic police constable apprehended one of the accused on the spot, an officer said on Thursday. The incident took place around 12.30 am on the intervening night of July 15 and 16. A PCR call reporting firing near the Azadpur Mandi entry gate was received at Adarsh Nagar police station, following which police teams rushed to the spot and launched an investigation. Traffic Constable Udham Singh of the Model Town Traffic Circle, who was on duty nearby, secured the scene, detained one of the suspects, Mohammad Kaif, and immediately alerted the local police. Preliminary investigation revealed that the clash began as a road rage incident involving two cars travelling in the area. One group was travelling in a Baleno car, while the other was in a Brezza. Police said the Baleno was occupied by Mohammad Kaif, Harshit Gupta, Aman Jatav, Kamal and Haider, who were heading towards GTB Nagar. The Brezza was carrying Jatin, Harsh and Prince Maan, all residents of Prahladpur Bangar, who were travelling towards Model Town. Both vehicles stopped near the Azadpur Mandi entry gate, where the occupants got into an argument over rash driving that soon turned into a physical altercation. "During the scuffle, a few associates of Mohammad Kaif allegedly arrived on two scooters. One of them allegedly opened fire. One shot was fired in the air while another bullet struck Prince Maan on his left buttock," a senior police officer said. The injured man was rushed to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narain Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment. His condition is stated to be stable. During inspection of the crime scene, police recovered one live cartridge. The weapon used in the firing is yet to be recovered, police said. An FIR has been registered at Adarsh Nagar police station under relevant provisions. CCTV footage from the area is being examined and eyewitnesses are being questioned, they said. A senior police officer praised constable Udham Singh's courage, saying his prompt action in detaining one of the accused despite the firing reflected exceptional bravery and professionalism. "He acted with remarkable courage and presence of mind. Such dedication is commendable. He will be suitably honoured for his exemplary conduct. Delhi Police is proud of personnel like him," the officer said. Efforts are underway to identify and arrest the remaining accused and further investigation is underway. PTI BM MDO MDO