Dentist murder: Police asks cyber cell to probe communal angle

The Delhi Police have directed their cyber cell to probe into rumours, alleging communal angle in the murder of dentist Dr Pankaj Narang (40) , on social networking sites. 

Meanwhile, the main accused Naseer’s medical test confirmed that he was slapped.  However, it’s not yet confirmed if Dr Narang had slapped him as alleged by Naseer.  

On the intervening night of March 23 and 24, Dr Narang, 40, was beaten to death by a mob of over 12 people, including a woman, in front of his eight-year-old son and nephew in the Dhauli Pyaun area of West Delhi’s Vikaspuri. Dr Narang was playing cricket with his son and nephew when the ball tossed outside his compound and hit two men riding a motorcycle, police said.

According to the police,  this led to a heated argument between the doctor and the two motorbike riders – Naseer (23) and a juvenile and Dr Narang allegedly slapped Naseer. After the scuffle, Naseer and the juvenile, both residents of a nearby slum cluster, left the spot on their motorbike. However, Naseer returned to Dr Narang’s house with over 12 other people, including his mother, in a few minutes. The group allegedly attacked the doctor with bats, sticks and rods at his residence. They assaulted everyone who came to the doctor’s rescue, the police said.

“When nine out of twelve accused were nabbed by the police, including four juveniles, the social media was flooded with posts and tweets related to the dentist’s murder. Hashtags like #DrPankajLynched and #JusticeForDrNarang started trending on Twitter. There were several posts that the men, who assaulted Narang, were Bangladeshi Muslims and lived in a slum right near his house,” said a senior police official.

The police have asked the cyber wing to identify the persons, who spread the rumours. The Twitter handle and Facebook profiles of journalists, political supporters, their affiliated pages and followers are being scrutinised. 

Those found guilty will be booked under the relevant sections of the IT Act, said a senior police official.