Man beaten to death over late-night celebrations

The festival of happiness and cheer turned tragic for a family of a 33-year-old man reportedly after he asked a dholak player to continue beating the drum near his house in Outer Delhi area. On the night of Diwali, a 33-year-old man was allegedly lynched to death by another man over objection to playing drums (dholak) at Outer Delhi’s Bawana Industrial area.

According to the police, the victim has been identified as Ata-ur-Rehman. While there were rumours that the incident led to communal disharmony in the areas of Bawana and adjoining areas such as Begumpur, senior police officials of the Outer district refuted the claims saying that it was a minor incident and that the atmosphere in the area is normal.

Police said that the incident took place on Sunday night at around 9.30 pm in the Sector 3 area of Bawana industrial area where workers from the nearby factory had gathered. A man was reportedly playing drums due to which large number of factory workers from the nearby factories gathered around him. After a few minutes, the man stopped playing drums and everyone present at the spot started going inside their factories.

Sources said that the deceased, Rehman, who lived in the Sector 3 area, allegedly in an inebriated state told the person playing the drums not to stop.  However, other factory workers resisted the demand made by the victim. 

Sources said that this led to a heated argument between one Chintu,  a local of the area and Rehman. The quarrel escalated into a scuffle when Chintu allegedly started beating Rehman. 

Eyewitnesses told police that Chintu got a wooden stick from a nearby factory and thrashed Rehman till the former lost consciousness.

Sources said that apart from Chintu, more workers too joined in thrashing Rehman.

Eyewitnesses present at the spot informed the police after which a team of local police rushed Rehman to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead.

Based on the eyewitness’ accounts wherein the locals identified Chintu as one of the main accused, police registered a case of murder at the Bawana police station under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code against Chintu.

Police said that they arrested Chintu on Monday and subsequently had sent him to judicial custody. Further investigation in the matter is still on, said police.