Thaindian News

New Delhi, Nov 30 (IANS) In an incident of road rage, a 50-year-old journalist, working with a prominent web newspaper, was arrested in the capital for shooting at a man after the victim’s car had brushed against his, police said Wednesday.

Journalist Arun Kumar Pandey was arrested from Vasant Kunj in south Delhi at 2 p.m. for firing at Jagbir Singh, 60, who miraculously escaped as the bullet hit his belt buckle, a police official said.

The incident took place at Church Road, 100 metres away from Fortis hospital in Vasant Kunj sector A in south Delhi.

Police said Pandey, a resident of Raj Nagar in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, was on his way to Andheria Mor from Mahipalpur when his Hyundai i-10 was brushed by Singh’s car, an Esteem, while the latter was trying to take a u-turn.

The two alighted from their cars and entered into an altercation. Two of Singh’s relatives, who were also in the car, joined in the quarrel.

In a fit of rage, Pandey fired twice in the air and once at Singh with his licensed automatic pistol, police said.

“We received a call and a police van soon reached there. They found Pandey standing beside his car,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police Chhaya Sharma.

Pandey told the police that he had fired thrice in the air to save himself from being physically assaulted by Singh and his relatives who fled from the spot after hitting his car. He surrendered himself and his licensed pistol to the police.

Police called Singh, a resident of Gurgaon in Haryana, for questioning. Singh told them that he came to Vasant Kunj for his daughter’s pre-wedding ceremony and while taking a u-turn his car brushed against Pandey’s, which led to an altercation and the firing.

He told police that Pandey aimed at him but it was his belt buckle that saved him. In fear he fled the spot. “We found enough evidence that shows that a bullet hit the buckle. There is a proper dent mark on the buckle and burn marks on Singh’s body,” said Sharma.

Police also verified Pandey’s claim that the fired thrice. Police found only three used cartridges from the spot.

“We have booked Pandey under section Section 307 (attempt to murder) of Indian Penal Code,” she added.

Police are still trying to probe the circumstances that made Pandey fire over such a minor issue.

Pandey is lodged behind bars at the Vasant Kunj police station and will be presented in court Thursday.