Auto driver stabbed to death by passenger at Connaught Place in Delhi, 1 held

An autorickshaw driver died on Sunday night after he was allegedly stabbed by his passengers for alleged overcharging and carrying an additional passenger in Delhi’s Connaught Place area. A PCR call was made by passersby after they saw the driver bleeding near his auto. The police took the injured autorickshaw driver to Lady Hardinge Medical College, where he succumbed to his injuries late at night.

The deceased has been identified as Jahangir Alam, a resident of Jamia, they added. 

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Meanwhile, the Tilak Marg police station was informed that a man, who had allegedly stabbed the auto driver, was apprehended by the public at Balwant Rai Mehta Lane, the officer said, adding that a blood-stained knife was also recovered from the possession of the man, a resident of Dakshin Puri.

During the interrogation, the police was informed that four men had hired the auto from Khanpur to go to Connaught Place. On the way, a dispute erupted between the driver and the passengers over the former charging a higher fare at night and carrying an extra passenger, which led to the stabbing of the auto driver, the officer said. Subsequently, two more accused, both residents of Dakshin Puri, were also arrested, Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Madhur Verma said.

The police are yet to ascertain the age of the accused and are verifying if they are juveniles. Further investigation is underway. According to Delhi Police data, 62 of the 337 killings (18.39 per cent) reported in the national capital till September 15 this year were triggered by sudden provocation over trivial issues. 

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The man who called up the police said he saw the auto rickshaw driver running towards him. "He was bleeding. He was not able to speak. We got scared and asked him what happened. He fell on the ground. He said a passenger stabbed him but he didn't who the person was," said Ratan Singh Chauhan, a resident of Gujarat who was visiting Delhi. 

(With agency inputs)