New Delhi, April 10 A 34-year-old construction worker was killed after a drunken argument with his colleagues at the Ghazipur poultry market in east Delhi, police said on Friday, adding that two suspects have been arrested in the case.
The deceased has been identified as Ranjeet Kumar Pandit, originally from Godda, Jharkhand, who was working as a construction worker and living in a temporary tin shed at a construction site in the Murga Mandi area.
Police said information was received at the Ghazipur police station around 5:20 am on April 9 from LBS Hospital regarding a man being brought in dead. Ranjit had been taken to the hospital by his colleague and neighbor, Mohammad Mohfiz.
During the inspection, police found injury marks on the victim's head and blood stains inside the room where he was staying. Initially, no eyewitness was found, and a case was registered.
During the course of the investigation, inconsistencies were noticed in Mohfiz's statement regarding the timeline of the incident and the delay in taking the injured to the hospital.
"Further interrogation revealed that he, along with another colleague, Moolchandra, was involved in the incident," a senior police officer said.
The three men had consumed alcohol together on Wednesday night, during which a quarrel broke out over a trivial issue. The dispute escalated after the victim allegedly took one of the accused's mobile phone, leading to suspicion and a heated argument, police said.
During the altercation, the victim slapped Moolchandra, who then picked up a wooden object and struck him on the head, causing fatal injuries, the officer said.
Police said Mohfiz kept a hold on the victim during the assault and later delayed taking him to the hospital.
Both suspects – Mohammad Mohfiz (38), a resident of Saharsa in Bihar, and Moolchandra (33), originally from Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh – have been arrested.
The weapon used, a wooden piece, along with the victim's mobile phone, has been recovered. Further investigation is in progress, police added.