Delhi teen out to celebrate end of examinations attacked at eatery; in coma

NEW DELHI: What was meant to be an evening outing to celebrate the end of his exams turned into a nightmare for a 17-year-old boy, who is battling for his life after being shot at an eatery in southeast Delhi’s Amar Colony on Tuesday evening.After registering a case of attempted murder, police on Wednesday apprehended a 16 year-old boy in Okhla at 4am and found an automatic pistol on him, police sources said. He was previously involved in another shooting incident in Kalkaji last year. The sources said, “The suspect is believed to be the shooter and is being questioned about the motive behind the attack and the source of the firearm.” Police are also looking for two more suspects.The 16-year-old used to pose as a relative of a politician and prowl Amar Colony, the sources said, adding that two months ago, the politician lodged a complaint with police, alleging that the boy was misusing his name.With a bullet still stuck in his brain, the victim, Sai Kumar, is in a coma and on ventilator support, Shubham Kashyap, a family friend, said.Speaking to TOI in the waiting room outside the emergency department at AIIMS Trauma Centre on Wednesday, Sai’s father, Sunil Kumar, 37, said he initially refused his son permission for the outing.“But Sai kept on pleading with me,” he said.The Class 12 student left his grandfather’s house inSouth Extension II at 5 pm. Accompanied by a girl, who is one of his classmates, he first visited a friend’s house before deciding to grab a bite at the Amar Colony eatery with her. Later, he was to meet a group of boys. All of them study at a prominent schoolin Kailash Colony.Sai and the girl entered the eatery, where a group of three boys, who were not known to them, began staring at her and passing objectionable remarks, Sai’s family claimed. “The girl told us they appeared intoxicated,” said a common friend. While the group briefly left the spot, they returned with a gun.“Sai, being a quiet boy, was trying to avoid confrontation and told the girl they should leave,” the friend said, adding that the three boys surrounded them at this point. Sai’s father claimed they first assaulted him before one of them shot him near his temple. The girl contacted the common friend and made a video call to him to show what had just happened. She then rushed Sai to hospital.However, police said the altercation stemmed from the group brushing past Sai’s chair, adding that the claims of his family are being verified.An Amar Colony shopkeeper recalled the incident. “The area was crowded when I heard a loud sound.At first, I thought someone had burst a firecracker, but I rushed out and saw what happened,” Jageshwar, 51, told TOI .Sai is an only child. His father, Sunil, runs a laundry shop in Chhatarpur Enclave, while Sai’s grandfather, Santu Kumar, 57, operates another in South Extension II.His grandfather said, “Sai ate pizza with us before leaving for Amar Colony, saying he would be back soon.” Sai’s mother and grandmother looked inconsolable. “We just want him to make it out alive,” they murmured.