delhi

Updated: Nov 19, 2015 11:10 IST

A 31-year-old man with hearing and speech impairment, who had been conferred with the President’s Education Award, was shot dead in northeast Delhi’s Seelampur area on Tuesday night.

Police said the accused, identified as Salman (25), had shot Vinod Kumar after a minor dispute over Rs 300.

Vinod helped his mother run a grocery store in Seelampur and was exceptionally good at studies.

According to the police, Salman reportedly accosted Vinod and his brother on Tuesday night near Seelampur metro station when they were on their way back from a local market.

Investigation revealed that Salman is a drug addict and had taken Rs 300 worth of groceries from Vinod’s shop on credit last month.

As he was unable to return the money, he reportedly came to meet Vinod on Tuesday night and shot him. He then fled the spot and has been absconding since then, police said.

Vinod’s brother Kamal said Salman often used to visit their shop and buy items on credit. But when it became routine, the brothers refused to give him credit. This angered Salman who then threatened to kill them both.

Kamal told the police that on Tuesday night Salman intercepted them near the Seelampur metro station. “Salman stopped them and grabbed Vinod. When he resisted, Salman took out a pistol and shot him. The bullet hit Vinod’s forehead and he collapsed bleeding. Kamal then rushed his brother to a hospital with the help of an e-rickshaw driver, where he was declared dead on arrival,” police said.

The police have put Salman’s phone on technical surveillance and have also accessed his call detail records.

“We have registered a case of murder and have begun investigations. We will nab him soon,” police said.

One of Vinod’s relatives said: “Why would anyone shoot a person who cannot hear or speak. He never got into any fights with anyone as he always focused on his studies. He wanted to be a businessman and was inclined towards his studies. How could someone be so insensitive? His mother is left alone now.”