Crane operator shot at, 2 held

A business rivalry over the distribution of crane operations in South-West Delhi took a violent turn when a 30-year-old crane operator was shot on Sunday near the Bamdoli bus stand, Bijwasan, police officials said on Wednesday.

Police said that a PCR call was received at 11:45 am, reporting the incident. The victim, identified as Laxman (30), a resident of Samalkha, Delhi, and originally from Fatehpur, Etah in Uttar Pradesh, was immediately rushed to the hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound on his arm. “Laxman is employed as a crane operator with Sannoj Crane, a firm owned by Sanoj, also 30, from Samalkha,” a senior police officer said.

“He had gone to the office of MD Crane, another crane business in the Najafgarh-Bijwasan area, with his employer and staff to discuss the ongoing dispute over crane operation areas,” the official added.

The conflict, police said, is between Sanoj and Bhanu Pratap Singh (30), the owner of MD Crane, and his brother Vikesh (25), both of whom hail from Hathras in Uttar Pradesh, but reside at Barthal village in Delhi.

The tension escalated when both parties engaged in a heated argument. “During the altercation, Bhanu Pratap Singh pulled out a pistol and fired at Laxman,” an officer said. Following the firing, Bhanu Pratap and Vikesh fled the scene. Laxman was initially admitted to Indira Gandhi Hospital in Dwarka and later transferred to Safdarjung Hospital for further treatment. His condition remains critical.

Both Bhanu Pratap and Vikesh have been arrested.