Woman shot dead in front of husband, son in Delhi

Asia

A 34-year-old woman was shot dead in a car here early on Wednesday in front of her husband and two-year-old son, police said.

Priya Mehra was in the car with her husband and son when she was shot twice from close range at around 4.15 a.m. in Shalimar Bagh in west Delhi, Deputy Commissioner of Police Milind Mahadeo Dumbere told IANS.

Her husband Pankaj Mehra said he was unable to pay back money borrowed from a man and claimed the lender was behind the murder, Dumbere said.

There were about four assailants in another car, according to the husband.

Family members told IANS that Pankaj Mehra, who used to run a bar in Paharganj, had borrowed money from a moneylender, Monu, and he had threatened to kill him on Monday.

At around 4 a.m. on Wednesday, the assailants overtook the Mehras' car and blocked its way. Then one of them broke the window glass of the driver's seat with a revolver and asked Pankaj Mehra to step out, according to his family members.

Pankaj Mehra got a grip on the gun while it was still in the assailant's hand.

"As Pankaj did not get out, the killer shot once and it hit aunty (Priya). Then he fired again and that too hit her. But then the gun got stuck," Pankaj's nephew Ankit Mehra, 26, told IANS.

As the assailants tried to get another gun, Pankaj Mehra managed to start the car and escape from the area.

Though Priya Mehra was rushed to a nearby hospital, she died within half hour.

Family members said the assailants may have come with a view to kidnap Pankaj Mehra in a bid to get back the borrowed money.

Ankit Mehra said Pankaj Mehra and Monu had financial dealings for two to three years. He said Pankaj Mehra had to close the bar a month ago after incurring huge debts.

"Monu knew my uncle (Pankaj) won't be able to pay back the money. As Monu didn't know his house, on Monday he went to my uncle's sister's house and said that they would find Pankaj and kill him," Ankit Mehra said.

Pankaj Mehra had borrowed Rs 5 lakh in high interest. As the debt ballooned to Rs 40 lakh, he just could not pay back the money, Dumbere said.

The officer said no one had been arrested yet and the body has been sent to Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial Hospital (BJRM) Hospital for autopsy.

The Mehras had gone to Bangla Sahib Gurudwara at around midnight and were on their way to their house in Rohini when the murder took place.

Source: business