Two security guards murdered

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, AUG. 29.

Two security guards were murdered by assailants in separate incidents in the upmarket Hauz Khas area of South Delhi early on Monday.

Block security guard Satish Kumar Dwivedi (26), was stabbed a number of times after he caught hold of burglars who had broken into an office in the Safdarjung Development Area hours after midnight. He was taken to the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences where he was declared brought dead.

In the second incident, which in all likelihood occurred at about the same time, the body of Vir Singh (29), was found lying in a pool of blood inside ``Prerna International'' in the X Block of Hauz Khas on Tuesday morning. He had also been stabbed in the neck a number of times. The assailants had also stuck a screw driver in his neck.

While senior police officers remained tight-lipped about whether the incidents were connected, the modus operandi suggested the hand of the same group. Firstly, it was being suspected that more than two persons were involved in both incidents. Secondly, both victims had been stabbed a number of times.

The first incident occurred between 2 a.m. and 2-30 a.m. in the C-Block of Safdarjung Development Area. Dwivedi was making the rounds of the block when he spotted at least two persons coming out of the ground floor of house No. C-117. They were carrying computers and a fax machine. The ground floor of the four-storey building housed an office.

Without hesitating, Dwivedi grabbed the nearest one and at the same time, he began to shout for help. After making futile attempts to free himself from Dwivedi's hands, the burglar took out a knife and stabbed the watchman repeatedly.

As a grievously injured Dwivedi's grasp loosened, the youth and his associate escaped, leaving behind some of the stolen equipments. The assailants disappeared by jumping over the boundary wall of the adjoining deer park.

Some residents who were alerted by the sounds of struggle called up the Police Control Room. Police, however, took more than 30 minutes to respond to the emergency call. In fact, residents complained that they had to go to Hauz Khas police station and inform the Station House Officer in person for him to take action.

A fax machine was later recovered by the owner of the office, Colonel Chaddha, from among the bushes in the deer park. Further investigations were on.

Watchman-cum-sweeper Vir Singh's, body was discovered at about 9- 30 a.m. by another employee of the firm, Charan Das. Das had reported as usual in the morning and found the office door ajar. He went inside to find Singh's body on the floor. A kitchen knife was found nearby.

A senior employee of the company said Singh had been working there for the past 10 years. He usually slept in the office at night and was the one to open it in the morning.

Police said the job appears to be that of an insider as the entry to the office was friendly. There was some food lying in the room besides a glass and a bottle. It was apparent that the strongly- built Singh had put up stiff resistance. It also suggested that at least two persons had attacked him.

The burglars were unable to take anything from the house. Marks on the cash box suggested that attempts had been made to break it open. Nothing was missing from the office, confirmed the employees.

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