Tragic Arson in Delhi Kills Three Following Debt Dispute in Govindpuri
A fatal fire in Delhi, caused by deliberate arson over an ₹80,000 debt dispute, has claimed the lives of three people. Four individuals, including a juvenile, have been arrested as police confirm the fire was not an accident.
A tragic incident of arson in Delhi has resulted in the deaths of three individuals, following a dispute over an unpaid debt of ₹80,000. Law enforcement officials confirmed that a 17-year-old girl and three other accomplices set a scooter on fire to intimidate a resident, inadvertently causing a deadly inferno in the Tughlakabad Extension neighborhood.
Details of the Arson Tragedy in Delhi
The incident occurred in the early hours of June 12, at approximately 2:20 am, within a residential building in the Govindpuri area. The suspects—identified as the juvenile, Sarita, Niranjan (33), and Rajkumar (27)—targeted a scooter owned by Deepak, who lived on the fifth floor of the property. The act of arson was allegedly intended as a warning for failing to repay a monetary debt, but the situation escalated rapidly.
The fire quickly spread from the initial target to other parked vehicles, eventually engulfing significant portions of the building. Tragically, 28-year-old Pankaj Pandey, his 20-year-old sister Sonia, and their 70-year-old grandmother, Sushila Devi, lost their lives in the blaze. Furthermore, eight other occupants sustained injuries while attempting to escape the smoke and flames.
Police Investigation and Arrests
The investigation into this arson case gained momentum after authorities reviewed CCTV footage from around 2:23 am. The video evidence captured a masked girl entering the premises shortly before the fire broke out. DCP (Southeast) Hemant Tiwari noted that this footage served as a crucial lead, confirming that the fire was a deliberate criminal act rather than an accidental short circuit as initially suspected.
Upon questioning the apprehended juvenile, police uncovered the conspiracy involving Sarita, Niranjan, and Rajkumar, all residents of Navjeevan Camp. While the perpetrators claimed they only intended to damage the vehicle to pressure the victim, the consequences proved fatal. Consequently, authorities expanded the charges to include criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and mischief by fire. Emergency responders, including firefighters and local police, arrived swiftly at the scene following a 2:31 am call to conduct rescue operations, assisting residents like Guddi Devi and Moni, who were among those seriously injured during the emergency.
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