Assailants fire at police constable

 A 50-year-old Delhi Police constable had a narrow escape on Tuesday when two unidentified persons fired four rounds at him when he was sitting inside his car in South-west Delhi’s Najafgarh area.

The official, identified as Chandrapal, is posted as a head constable at Chhawla police station. He was undergoing treatment for depression at the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) here and was on leave for the last 11 days, said a senior police official. According to the police, the incident was reported around 8.30 am on Tuesday when Chandrapal was about to start his car. Two bike-borne assailants suddenly approached from his left side and allegedly fired four rounds at him.

However, the assailants missed their target and the constable escaped with a minor injury caused by a pellet. The assailants fled the scene after which Chandrapal called up the police control room. Chandrapal was rushed to a hospital and later discharged after first aid.

“A case under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC has been registered at Chhawla police station. <g data-gr-id="23">Investigation</g> is underway,” said DCP (South-west) RA Sanjeev.

From preliminary investigation, it appears to be a case of personal enmity, said a police official, adding that it is also possible that it was a case of mistaken identity.

Chandrapal lives in a one-room rented accommodation above a property dealer’s office at Najafgarg main road. He is native of a village near Greater Noida and drives his son's Maruti Swift car, which he parks outside his rented house, said the official. 

He reported to be unwell but still continued to live alone in the rented room, despite being sanctioned leave, the official added.