New Delhi: In a shocking incident on Friday morning, 55-year-old Congress worker Lakhpat Singh Kataria was shot dead in broad daylight while on his routine morning walk at Vijay Mandal Park in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar.
Police said two unidentified men approached him, assaulted him with sticks, and then fired four shots, killing him on the spot.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Ankit Chauhan, a PCR call was received at 9:53 am from Malviya Nagar police station reporting the shooting near the park.
“The victim sustained gunshot injuries to his head and chest. He was immediately taken to AIIMS, where he was declared dead on arrival,” a police officer confirmed.
The initial PCR call was reportedly made by a guard on duty at the park, who stated that Kataria visited the park daily at the same time for his walk. CCTV footage from the park shows the two assailants entering the premises on a motorcycle. They are still at large.
Kataria, a resident of Begumpur, is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
Fear Grips the Locality
The incident has sparked fear among residents, as this is not the first violent crime in the park. In July 2023, a 22-year-old woman named Nargis was beaten to death with an iron rod by a man whose marriage proposal her family had rejected. That incident also took place in the 46-acre DDA park, which is usually crowded with visitors.
The park, located just 100 metres from the Malviya Nagar police station, is guarded by 13 personnel round the clock, with one guard stationed at each of its three entry gates.
Congress coordinator CP Soni expressed outrage over the killing. “In an area like South Delhi, men came, beat Lakhpat up, and then shot him at around 9:30 am, in a park where around 500 people walk daily. If even a Congress worker is not safe, what about ordinary citizens?” he said.
Eyewitness Accounts
Devender Singh, one of the park guards, said, “Kataria was a frequent visitor and came almost every day for his walk. He had been coming here for years. They came, beat him, and then shot him.”
Manjul Gupta, a resident and regular visitor to the park, said, “I often saw Kataria during my morning walks. The park is the biggest and most well-maintained in Malviya Nagar, but incidents like this are terrifying.
A couple of years ago, a woman was killed here as well. People are scared, especially since the attackers have not yet been apprehended.”
Former MLA and AAP leader Somnath Bharti criticized authorities for failing to improve security after the 2023 murder. “Morning walks in Delhi are now unsafe. Around 9:30 am, Lakhpat Kataria was first beaten with a bat and then shot.
I had previously requested DDA and Delhi Police to strengthen security at the park entry gates after the last murder, but no action was taken,” he said.
Possible Motives Under Investigation
Police sources revealed that Kataria, who was also a property dealer, had previously lodged complaints regarding drug peddling in Begumpur.
Authorities are now investigating multiple angles, including property disputes, extortion, and connections to his complaints about drug-related activities. Efforts are ongoing to trace and apprehend the gunmen.
A case has been registered under Section 101 (murder) of the BNS and the Arms Act at Malviya Nagar police station.
#DelhiCrime #MalviyaNagar #CongressWorkerKilled #VijayMandalPark #LakhpatSinghKataria #SouthDelhi #DaylightShooting #SafetyConcerns #DrugRelatedCrime #DelhiPolice #PropertyDispute
