A tragic crime unfolded near Gate Number 3 of the AIIMS Metro Station on Aurobindo Marg in South Delhi, where a 49-year-old street vendor was killed following a minor argument on the night of July 23. An intoxicated man strangled the vendor using a belt. Onlookers at the scene displayed quick action by overpowering the assailant immediately and handing him over to responding police officers.
Background of the Victim and Origins of the Conflict
The victim has been identified as Manoj Singh, a 49-year-old resident originally from Mai village in the Nawada district of Bihar. For the past two decades, Manoj Singh had earned his livelihood by selling clothes on the pavement outside Gate Number 3 of Safdarjung Hospital to support his family. At around 10 PM on July 23, he packed up his trade for the day and began walking back home. Near the metro station entrance, he bumped into Lokesh, a 40-year-old resident of Taimoor Nagar, who was heavily under the influence of alcohol and initiated a confrontation without provocation.
The Fatal Attack and Public Intervention
Initial findings indicate that Manoj Singh attempted to ignore the altercation and walked away to prevent further trouble. However, the intoxicated suspect unexpectedly chased him from behind and used his belt to tightly strangle Manoj Singh around the neck. Hearing the commotion, commuters and nearby shopkeepers rushed to the spot. Bystanders promptly caught Lokesh and detained him until local law enforcement arrived at the scene.
Hospitalization and Police Investigation
Upon receiving information about the assault, a police team from Hauz Khas station arrived at the scene and immediately rushed the injured vendor to the adjacent Safdarjung Hospital. Despite medical intervention, Manoj Singh succumbed to his injuries during treatment. His son, Bittu Kumar, stated that the family received news of the assault around 11 PM. Bittu Kumar mentioned, "My father was returning home after work when an intoxicated man intentionally provoked a dispute."
Legal Proceedings and Security Concerns
The local police have registered a case of murder under relevant legal sections and taken Lokesh into formal custody for further questioning. Officers are reviewing surveillance footage from cameras located along Aurobindo Marg and near the metro station to verify the sequence of events leading up to the fatal encounter. The incident has raised fresh concerns regarding night-time safety for street vendors working along busy public corridors in the national capital.
