Kashmere Gate mishap: Police yet to identify victim

A day after a DPS Mathura Road student mowed down a homeless man to death with his friend's i-20 car, the deceased is yet to be identified by the police.

The investigators had also questioned the three pavement dwellers who were also injured, but they have failed to identify him. The police are now planning on widening their search and will approach the homeless people in Old Delhi area to identify the deceased.

The local police from Kashmere Gate police station have constituted a total of three teams who are scouring the Old Delhi area. Initially, the police had approached the two victims- Sanjay and Karan. The third victim, Asif remains critical.

"Karan was discharged yesterday itself and we questioned him. He was unable to identify the deceased. The next morning Sanjay was also asked about the deceased, we showed him the photographs of the deceased and he was unable to identify him. It appears that the victim was sleeping at the pavement for the first time," said Jatin Narwal, Deputy Commissioner of police (North).

The police later, sent the three teams who scoured the Yamuna Bazaar Hanuman Temple and Nigam Bodh Ghat crematorium. Several pavement dwellers were questioned and his identity could not be ascertained.

"We had shown the deceased's photograph to around 300 people, but none of them were able to identify the deceased," said a senior police official privy to the investigation.

After this development, the police decided to extend their search to various areas in North Delhi. The investigators prepared a list of all area frequented by homeless people and will depute the teams to target the areas.

"The areas that will be targeted by the teams include Chandni Chowk, Daryaganj, Jama Masjid, Old Delhi railway station and Kashmere Gate interstate bus terminal. We will also be questioning the vagabonds of the area," the official added.

Since the deceased did not have any identification card in his possession, the police are finding it difficult to ascertain his identity. According to the data from Centre for Holistic Development (CHD), around 770 homeless people died in the time period of January to April 2017.

Now the police have just 72 hours for someone to claim the body before they decide to dispose of the body from Sabzi Mandi mortuary.