A 29-year-old Congolese national was bludgeoned to death by three men, two of them with past criminal records, in south Delhi’s Vasant Kunj area late Friday night after an argument over hiring an auto-rickshaw. A friend of the victim, who says he was across the road when the incident happened, described it as a “hate crime”.
Deputy commissioner of police (south district) Ishwar Singh confirmed the arrest of one of the accused, identified as Mobin Azad Saifi, 23. The victim, identified as Masonda Ketada Olivier, came to India on a student visa in 2012 and taught French at a private institute in Delhi, the police said. His friends claimed he was killed on his birthday, claims the police are verifying.
Olivier was on his way home in South Extension after visiting a friend’s flat in Kisangarh locality of Vasant Kunj at 11.40 pm on Friday when he reportedly had a verbal spat with at least three men over hiring an auto-rickshaw. The argument soon turned violent as the three accused, who were allegedly inebriated, started kicking and punching Olivier, said the police. They were also looking for an auto to go to a food joint in Chhatarpur area.
Eyewitnesses said the victim screamed for help and even tried to outrun the accused but the latter chased him down and attacked him. “One of the attackers dealt a blow to Olivier’s head with a heavy stone and he fell unconscious,” said eyewitnesses, adding, “The assailants then fled the spot.” The police said they received a call about the incident at about 11.44 pm from a passer-by and immediately sent a PCR van that took the injured to AIIMS Trauma Centre where doctors declared him brought dead. The police then filed a case of murder and began investigation.
“We examined CCTV footage of the entire area and mobilised local informers to get clues about the attackers. We found success as CCTV footage had captured the incident and on that basis we identified all three of them,” said a senior police officer.
DCP Ishwar Singh told this newspaper they have arrested Mobin Azad Saifi, a resident of Mehrauli area, and a search for the two other accused, Mukesh and Prakash, is on. “Several police teams have been formed to arrest them. Mukesh and Mobin have criminal records and they were released on bail after serving three months in jail. They became friends in prison,” the DCP said.
Even though the police ruled out any racist angle in the incident, one of the victim’s friends, Sam, alleged it was a hate crime. “I was with Olivier just a few minutes before the incident as I had crossed over to the other side of the road to look for an auto for myself,” Sam said, adding, “Though I do not know what exactly happened, I saw three men brutally thrashing Olivier. Even though I cried out for help, nobody came to the rescue. I think it is a clear case of hate crime.”
