South Delhi: Gym instructor shoots dead journalist over loud music

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Feb 24, 2016: A 30-year-old journalist was allegedly shot dead by a gym instructor in south Delhi’s Vasant Kunj on Tuesday night after he asked him to lower the volume of music playing at his party.

Hardeep, an editor at Inter-University Accelerator Center, was reportedly sitting in his room on the first floor with his friend when he heard loud music playing at the gym on the ground floor of the building. Unable to sleep, Hardeep asked 27-year-old Rinku to lower the volume of music.

“Rinku was reportedly drinking with his friends and playing loud music. When Hardeep went to the gym asking them to end the party or at least lower the volume, Rinku got angry and started abusing Hardeep. He asked him to mind his own business and go back to his room. It is then when Hardeep threatened to report him to the RWA and left,” a senior police officer said.

Just a few minutes later, Rinku and two of his friends went to Hardeep’s room asking him to come out and settle the matter.

“Rinku started kicking the door threatening to break in. When Hardeep opened the door, the two had an argument followed by a scuffle. Hardeep was pushed to the ground, kicked and punched several times. Rinku then whipped out a pistol and fired a bullet that hit Hardeep in the stomach and he collapsed on the ground,” the officer said.

Hardeep’s friend tried to overpower Rinku and his friend but they managed to escape threatening to shoot him as well. He then made a PCR call and even called an ambulance. When neither the police or the ambulance arrived, he lifted Hardeep on his shoulder and took him to the hospital in an auto rickshaw.

“Authorities at the hospital informed us about the bullet injury and our team then went to the hospital to examine the case. On the statement of Hardeep’s friend, a case of murder has been registered and a hunt to nab the accused is on,” an investigator said.

He said Rinku and his friend are absconding but they hope to arrest them soon. A separate inquiry will be initiated to see why the PCR did not reach the spot despite a call from Hardeep’s friend, he added.

Hardeep is survived by his parents and was their only son.