Four armed assailants shot dead a Delhi Police head constable and seriously injured an undertrial in Court Number 73 in the Karkardooma Court Complex in the national Capital on Wednesday.

Irfan alias Chhenu Pehalwan, a noted history sheeter from the Trans Yamuna area of the Capital, was the target of the assailants, who were allegedly contracted by a South East Delhi gang at the behest of Chhenu’s rivals. At least two of the four attackers were confirmed as juveniles by the police.

According to an eyewitness, the attack took place at around 11.45 in the morning in the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Sunil Gupta, during the hearing of an extortion case against Chhenu, who was brought in from the Rohini Jail by head constable Ram Kunwar Meena of the Third Battalion of Delhi Armed Police. The assailants fired at lest 15 rounds across the courtroom, sparking panic.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) B.S. Gurjar said three of the assailants were overpowered by lawyers and others in the courtroom, while the fourth was held near the stairs.

Chhenu and the injured Ram Kunwar Meena, who was escorting him, were rushed to the nearby Hedgewar Hospital. Meena was declared brought dead while Chhenu continues to be critical.