NEW DELHI: A day after a 21-year-old woman was found murdered in west Delhi’s Tilak Nagar, police apprehended the suspect Imran, alias Aqib, after a manhunt across three states.Police said the victim, Muskan, was alone at home when she was attacked. Imran was previously involved in a 2021 case of assault and culpable homicide, cops said.An encounter broke out during the arrest operation, during which the accused sustained a gunshot injury before being successfully taken into custody. He has been shifted to a hospital and is now receiving treatment.Imran used to work as a trainer at the gym where Muskan also worked out. They had known each other for 1.5 years, a senior cop said.Police said her family had approached them in July against Imran for harassing and stalking her near her home. The family didn’t lodge a formal complaint.
‘Planned murder ’: Suspect came to house with knife
A senior police officer said the two had known each other for around one-and-a-half years. As per police sources, Imran had become suspicious that Muskan was speaking to someone else.The investigation has revealed that Wednesday, Muskan’s sisters had gone to Chandigarh, while her mother had stepped out to buy groceries when Imran arrived at the house. He entered around 5:40 pm, apparently in a friendly manner as he was known to Muskan. An argument subsequently broke out between the two, following which he allegedly attacked her with a knife. Muskan sustained three stab wounds to her abdomen. She was also strangled.Police said Imran remained inside the house for around 25 minutes after the attack and left around 6:05 pm. He allegedly took Muskan’s mobile phone with him while fleeing. The phone was later recovered by police from the roadside during the investigation.The family’s domestic help later entered the house and found Muskan lying in a pool of blood. She attempted to stop the bleeding by placing clothes over her wounds before rushing her to hospital. Muskan’s friend Aman said he received a call from her sister informing him that she had been stabbed. “I immediately reached her home, but she had already been taken to the hospital,” he said. Police sources said that the murder was pre-planned, as Imran had brought a knife with him to the house. Police have also obtained CCTV footage showing Imran moving hurriedly after the incident. Investigators are examining his movements before and after the murder to establish his whereabouts.During the investigation, police found Imran was heavily dependent on drugs. Following Muskan’s family’s complaint, he was sent to a drug de-addiction centre for some time in July. Her family alleged that the harassment continued for several months and Imran often followed her. While police claimed that the two had been in a relationship, Muskan’s family denied it.Investigators are also probing a meeting between Imran and Muskan at a hotel on Aug 20, days before the murder. Police are examining the circumstances of the meeting and other details that could shed light on what transpired between the two in the days leading up to the killing.According to an employee at the gym where Imran worked out, Muskan and Imran used to visit the same gym. The employee said Imran was removed around two months ago after he attempted suicide at his rented accommodation. The employee added that he had been working at the gym for the past four to five months, while Muskan had been coming there for around three to four months to work out.DCP (west) Hareshwar Swami said they had formed 14 teams to nab Imran and raids are being conducted at his possible hideouts. He is suspected to have left the city. Investigators are also preparing ‘wanted’ posters as efforts continue to trace him. “We are examining his known contacts, movements and possible hideouts while simultaneously piecing together the sequence of events leading to the murder. His last location was found at Nangal area in Delhi,” an officer said. Joint CP Suman Goyal said: “The suspect and the victim were known to each other for quite some time and used to meet.”
