2 held for murdering 18-year-old as he asked for girlfriend’s phone number

New Delhi: Two youths were today arrested for allegedly stabbing an 18-year-old to death as he had asked for the phone number of the girlfriend of one of the accused in west Delhi’s Nihal Vihar area, police said.

Shamshad (20) allegedly stabbed Salauddin with a knife “more than 25 times” on November 26, while Sunil Pal (19) was an accomplice in the crime, said DCP (West) Vijay Kumar.

Salauddin’s friend Monu, who had rushed him to the hospital, told the police that on the fateful day, they were consuming alcohol when the deceased got a call from Pal who told him that he had got into a brawl with the local boys at DDA Park and called him for help, said the officer.

“Four of them reached DDA Park where Pal took Monu and the two other friends to one side, while Shamshad asked Salauddin why did he want his girlfriend’s mobile number. He did not wait for Salauddin’s reply and attacked him with a knife. Monu and the other friends tried to intervene but were threatened by Pal,” said Kumar.

The friends rushed Salauddin to the hospital but he was declared “brought dead”.

A police team was formed to nab the accused and raids were conducted at their houses and other probable places but in vain, the officer said.

Acting on a tip-off, the police today arrested Shamshad and Pal from near the Chander Vihar cremation ground, he added.

“During interrogation, Shamshad confessed that he and Salauddin were close friends. Last year, the two had gone to Mubarakpur village in Kirari where Shamshad had befriended a girl. The deceased knew about their friendship and after getting the girl’s mobile number from Shamshad’s phone, he had started calling and harassing her,” Kumar said.

The girl told about this to Shamshad who helped her change her phone number and warned Salauddin against calling or meeting her, he added.

“On November 25, Shamshad met Pal at a wedding ceremony where the latter told him that Salauddin was asking for his girlfriend’s mobile number. Subsequently, Shamshad arranged for a knife and hatched a plan to kill Salauddin,” said Kumar.

PTI