A 23-year-old worker associated with the Hindu Raksha Dal was shot dead during a dispute over construction and measurement of a plot near the MMX Mall on Ghaziabad’s GT Road on Friday afternoon, according to a report by Live Hindustan – NCR. Police have detained four people, recovered a revolver and removed three police personnel from field duties pending further action.
The incident took place in the Sahibabad police station area, near an old banquet hall that had been plotted for development. The deceased, identified as Ayush, lived in Sanjay Colony in Delhi’s Gokulpuri and was reportedly responsible for looking after a plot linked to Hindu Raksha Dal national president Pinky Chaudhary. The plot had been purchased around two-and-a-half years ago and registered in the name of Chaudhary’s wife, Poonam, the report said.
Police said the dispute involved the location of a boundary wall. Nomita Sharma, who lives nearby and owns a larger plot in the area, allegedly claimed that the section where the wall was being built belonged to her. Both sides have also accused each other of carrying out construction in a green belt, according to the police account cited in the report. The competing claims had reportedly remained unresolved for an extended period.
The confrontation began at about 3 pm when Surya, Pinky Chaudhary’s son, and some associates were overseeing work at the plot. Rahul Sahni, a resident of Shalimar Garden Extension-1 and an associate of Nomita Sharma, arrived to measure the land. A dispute followed by a physical altercation, the report said.
Surya alleged that Sahni, Sharma, Naresh Arora and Rahul Sharma attempted to stop the work and attacked those present when they objected. He further alleged that Sahni opened fire repeatedly, with one bullet striking Ayush in the chest. Police took Ayush to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Surya and his associates allegedly caught Sahni, seized the revolver and assaulted him. Sahni was later admitted to hospital with serious injuries, including a reported leg fracture.
Sahni gave a different account of the shooting. He said he had gone to conduct the measurement and that Surya and his associates attacked him. According to his version, the group tried to take away his revolver and the weapon discharged during the struggle, hitting Ayush. The conflicting accounts will be examined through the police investigation.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Trans Hindon, Rijul, said a case would be registered and further action taken. Police teams have visited the site several times after the shooting, and officials said a report would be sent to the administration seeking cancellation of the revolver licence.
The removal of three police personnel has added an administrative dimension to the case. Outpost in-charge Nahar Singh, beat sub-inspector Shivam Yadav and beat constable Lakhan Singh were sent to line duty, the report said. The DCP stated that the officers had met him about a week earlier and that they had been instructed to stop construction until the paperwork was completed.
The case now involves the investigation into the shooting, the status of the disputed land and the question of whether construction continued despite instructions to halt work. Police action and the administration’s decision on the firearm licence are the next stated steps.
