NEW DELHI: The New Year evening was streaked with blood with three almost back-to-back stabbings leaving an equal number of people dead in Delhi.Bihari Lal, 50, was fatally attacked by a group of juveniles in northwest Delhi’s Lal Bagh area after he asked them to stop shouting and playing loud music.A tailor by profession, Lal had just returned home Thursday evening from his job in Shastri Nagar when he confronted the noisy group of revelers. “This led to a heated exchange, during which one of the juveniles stabbed Lal,” a police officer said, adding that one of the boys kicked the victim several times during the fight.Bihari Lal was rushed to Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.Police have arrested one juvenile in connection with the killing and recovered the weapon used. A search is ongoing for the others involved in the attack.An FIR was registered at Adarsh Nagar Police Station, with investigators reviewing eyewitness accounts and CCTV footage from the area.Bihari Lal’s family and neighbours alleged that the group involved was notorious for causing disturbances in the locality. “He had just returned from duty and was parking his cycle when they came and started abusing everyone, throwing buckets, boxes and people’s belongings. Bihari Lal only told them not to use abusive language and shout, as there were women and children around. That was all he said,” Dimple, a neighbour, recounted. Pushpa, a relative, alleged that the group had been terrorising residents for some time. “They keep throwing bottles, stones and sticks, and nobody does anything. We complained earlier, but no action was taken. The police never did anything,” she said. Pushpa said four boys were involved in the attack and “they stabbed him three times.” Hours later, in outer Delhi’s Mangolpuri, an e-rickshaw driver, Vikas, was stabbed during a fight.Police said Vikas and his friend Sandeep, a 20-year-old daily-wage labourer, were sitting together when a group of youths initiated the altercation. “During the altercation, one of the accused stabbed Vikas, causing fatal injuries. Sandeep also suffered a minor lacerated wound,” an officer said.Both were rushed to a nearby hospital, where Vikas was declared dead.Police said preliminary investigations revealed bad blood between the victims and the attackers.All six accused, including four juveniles, have been apprehended, police added.On the same evening, a 15-year-old boy was stabbed to death in nearby Sultanpuri.Police said they were informed around 11:30 pm that a group of men had attacked the minor with a knife. “A police team rushed to the spot and found the injured boy lying on the road with multiple stab wounds,” an officer said.The victim, whose identity was not disclosed, was rushed to a hospital, where he was declared dead.Police arrested Vikram, around 30, with a history of crime, for allegedly killing the boy.During questioning, Vikram, who has six prior convictions, revealed that two others were with him during the stabbing. Authorities are searching for them.The boy’s mother alleged that her son had been threatened multiple times by the attackers, but police had taken no action. “My son had gone out only to get some juice when a few people started abusing him, and a fight broke out. I ran downstairs from my sister’s house and begged them not to harm my son. Instead, they took out a knife and attacked me. I somehow ran into a shop, where I saw my son being stabbed in front of my eyes,” the boy’s mother, Bali, said. She said that the accused had earlier also entered her house armed with weapons. “I informed the police, but no action was taken.” The boy was her only son.Police said the motive for the killing is yet to be ascertained.(With agency inputs)
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