A day later, 200 protesters blocked central Delhi to demand immediate arrest of the attackers

His sons, aged nine and 13, begged bystanders and nearby police for help, but were told to 'call 100'

in traffic - was blocking their way

Shahnawaz, 40, was beaten to death by five thugs because his bike -


Murdered: Road rage victim Shahnawaz was returning home from a family function when the shocking attack occurred

At around 10.30pm on Sunday, Turkman Gate lived up to Delhi’s reputation as a city that has lost its soul.

Two children, 13 and nine years old, stood wailing and begging bystanders as five local strongmen mercilessly beat their father to death over a traffic quarrel. Road rage claimed another life. No one in the crowd came forward. The police did not arrive from a chowki merely 50 metres away.

You could tick every item on Delhi’s infamous check-list.

When no one came to their father’s rescue, the hapless children ran to the cops, who asked them to call 100. By the time the police reached the spot, their father was lying in a pool of blood, and was declared dead on arrival at the Lok Nayak Hospital.

The death of 40-year-old Shahnawaz has shaken the city. Murders are commonplace in the Capital, but a man being thrashed to death because his motorcycle grazed a car as bystanders watched in silence is a new low even by Delhi’s standards.

Also, while Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi boasts about the new police motto “Shanti, Seva or Naya” and compares the force to the best-rated police departments across the globe, his men stood and watched Shahnawaz die without raising a finger.

According to the Delhi Police, Shahnawaz was returning home from a family function with his two sons on a motorbike when it grazed a car near Turkman Gate in Daryaganj.

Iron rods

The driver of the i20 car, identified as Shadab, got into a verbal spat with Shahnawaz. Shadab reportedly told Shahnawaz to move his bike as he was unable to manoeuvre his car.

When Shahnawaz expressed his inability to do so due to heavy traffic, Shadab, along with Khalid Amin, another occupant of the car, started thrashing Shahnawaz with iron rods.

Later, three other occupants of the car, Atif Lala, Mohammed Wasim, and another unidentified person, got out and joined them.

Seeing their father being attacked so mercilessly, Fahad and his younger brother Kaif tried to hold back the accused, but were pushed aside. The boys then ran to the nearest barricade where two policemen were standing and begged them to help their father.

‘Dial 100’

The cops allegedly told them to dial 100. The children then ran to their grandmother's house nearby and said: “Abu ki bahar ladai ho gayi hai kuch logo ke saath (Dad is involved in a fight outside with some people)”.

By the time the family reached the spot, it was already too late.

Shahnawaz, bleeding heavily, was rushed to the nearby Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.

Sorrow: A large crowd mourns the death of road rage victim Shahnawaz in the Turkman Gate area

Heart-breaking: Shahnawaz's mother breaks down in the Walled City after hearing the news of her son's death

Numb with grief: Shahnawaz's devastated parents are supported by relatives

On Monday evening, almost 24 hours after the incident, Turkman Gate wore an uneasy calm. Throughout the day, Shahnawaz’s family members and relatives sat in protest on the road with his body. A crowd of 200 choked the entire stretch, causing traffic jams across central Delhi in places like New Delhi railway station, ITO, Mandi House and Connaught Place circle.

Protesters held up a banner which had Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s picture along with those of the accused, demanding quick arrests.

The victim’s relatives said police are trying to protect Amin.

“Amin was the one who triggered the spat and started thrashing Shahnawaz. Police are clueless even after 12 hours of the incident,” Shahnawaz’s relative, Shahbuddin, told Mail Today.

Delhi Police chief Bassi has assured that all accused will be arrested soon.

“Mohammed Wasim has been arrested and the hunt for the remaining four is on,” he said, while briefing the media.

Family of goons on a short fuse claims life

By Ankur Sharma in New Delhi

The arrogance and short temper of a family which has right connections with policemen and local politicians has snuffed out an innocent life.

Residents of Delhi’s Turkman Gate, where 40-year-old Shahnawaz was thrashed to death on Sunday night, allege that main accused Khalid Amin alias Amin Pahalwan belongs to a family of goons, and all his 17 brothers are involved in illegal activities.

In 2011, Amin was involved in a fight with former MLA Shoaib Iqbal. Three of the other accused in the Turkman Gate killing were also embroiled in that case.

Relatives of the road rage victim point to the photos of some of the accused on an AAP hoarding in the area. However, a local AAP leader said they were not members of the party

Amin was initially a petty criminal. He was first arrested along with an associate in 1995 in an attempt to murder case from Seelampur area of North-East Delhi. The rogue element of Chandni Mahal area started a construction business since 2010.

“He has a construction and a handicraft business, but he is involved in various criminal cases. His brothers are also facing criminal charges,” a senior police officer said.

Amin is allegedly involved in eight criminal cases - robbery, an attempt to murder, rioting and incidents of causing hurt.

“He always carries a country-made pistol and a knife,” police sources said.

Importantly, Amin enjoys good connections with the local police as his day-to-day work requires their co-operation.

Drunk men thrash LS MP's son in another case

The Turkman Gate incident was not the only case of road rage reported in the Capital on Sunday.

In another case, the son of a Lok Sabha MP was allegedly thrashed by three men in South Delhi’s South Extension area.

The Delhi Police have arrested three accused in connection with the incident after registering a case under five IPC sections. According to police sources, the incident occurred when Ritu Raj, the son of Jahanabad MP Dr Arun Kumar, asked one of the accused to not park his Scooty in front of the gate of his residence.

“Around 10pm, the police got a call from South Extension Part-2 that three-four men have beaten up a man. When the police reached the spot, they found the MP’s son lying on the road. A PCR vehicle took the victim to the nearest hospital.

“After examining him, the doctors said Ritu Raj had dislocated his shoulder,” a police officer said.