Delhi eatery owner killed for refusing to serve food for free

NEW DELHI: A 30-year-old food stall owner was stabbed to death near his shop in east Delhi’s Gandhi Nagar on Friday after he refused to serve free food to local goons. One of the accused was arrested from the spot, police said.
The victim’s, Shahbuddin, family said they had informed the police five days back about the incident when the accused had harassed him over food and had left without paying.
The incident happened at 10.30pm when Shahbuddin was on his way to meet a friend after shutting his stall at Ajeet Nagar. He was waylaid by four men, two of whom were identified as Mohit and Sunil Pandey. He got into an argument with them following which they called in two others, and together stabbed Shahbuddin seven times on the chest and abdomen.
Hearing Shahbuddin’s cries, his family which lived nearby, rushed out and took him to a hospital where he died. Shahbuddin’s cousin Mohammad Arshad, who ran the food stall along with him, alleged that earlier as well, the youths had visited their shop, had food and left without paying.
Shahbuddin had registered a complaint with the local police following which the youths were called to the police station and the issue was resolved. However, on Friday night they again approached Shahbuddin’s shop and asked him for food to which he refused. This led to an argument between them following which the men threatened him with dire consequences. Later, they spotted him alone at night, stopped him and after a brief argument, stabbed him to death.
A case of murder was registered under IPC section 302 based on the statement by the cousin.