New Delhi – A Delhi court has convicted a man for the brutal killing of a youth during a late-night altercation at Anand Vihar ISBT in 2017, marking nearly nine years since the incident. Additional Sessions Judge Harvinder Singh found Shankar Lal guilty of murder, stating that the prosecution had successfully established the charges against him beyond a reasonable doubt.

According to court records, the case stemmed from an incident that occurred around 1:15 am on November 27, 2017, near an entry gate at Anand Vihar ISBT. The prosecution said that Lal became involved in a quarrel with the victim, Balbir Singh, and struck him on the head with a bamboo stick, reportedly taken from a temporary barricade at the site. The first blow caused the victim to collapse, after which Lal allegedly delivered a second strike while Singh lay on the ground, ultimately leading to his death.

Eyewitnesses testified that the accused was apprehended at the scene by members of the public and handed over to the police. The victim was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. The court relied on this testimony, alongside medical and forensic evidence, to reconstruct the events of that fateful night.

The postmortem report, the judge noted, clearly indicated that Singh died from injuries caused by blunt force trauma to the head. The injuries were deemed sufficient to cause death in the ordinary course of nature. The court rejected the defense claim that the victim, who was allegedly intoxicated, had accidentally fallen and sustained fatal injuries. Judge Harvinder Singh observed that the nature, severity, and number of injuries ruled out the possibility of an accidental fall as the cause of death.

Forensic evidence played a crucial role in the court’s findings. DNA analysis confirmed that the blood found on the bamboo stick used in the assault, as well as on the jacket worn by the accused, matched that of the deceased. This, combined with eyewitness accounts, led the court to conclude that the accused had intentionally inflicted fatal injuries.

In delivering the verdict, the judge highlighted the deliberate nature of the crime, noting that the accused struck the victim a second time after he had already fallen, demonstrating clear intent to cause grievous harm. “The accused intentionally inflicted head injuries with a heavy bamboo stick, and even after the victim fell, he struck him again,” the court observed.

The court has scheduled a hearing on January 7 to determine the quantum of sentence to be imposed on Shankar Lal. Legal experts anticipate that the sentence will reflect the severity and premeditated nature of the attack, sending a strong message about accountability for violent crimes in public spaces.

This conviction comes as a reminder of the judiciary’s efforts to ensure swift and thorough investigation in cases involving public violence, particularly those witnessed by multiple civilians. It also underscores the importance of forensic evidence, eyewitness testimony, and coordinated law enforcement efforts in securing convictions in violent crimes.

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