On Thursday evening, during Diwali festivities in northeast Delhi’s Shahdara area, a chilling incident unfolded when two armed men arrived on a scooter and carried out a targeted attack on a family celebrating outside their home in Bihari Colony. In a shocking sequence of events, 40-year-old Akash Sharma and his teenage nephew, Rishabh Sharma, were fatally shot, while Akash's 10-year-old son, Krish, sustained injuries and is currently undergoing treatment. The attack, which took place around 8 pm, has left the neighborhood in shock and raised serious questions about escalating violence in the area.
Eyewitnesses and family members shared unsettling details of the incident, revealing that the assailants approached the family under the pretense of a respectful greeting. They reportedly dismounted their scooter and, in a bizarre and haunting gesture, touched Akash's feet before launching their deadly attack. Security footage and a video captured by bystanders show Akash and Rishabh, both dressed in traditional yellow kurtas, joyfully preparing to light firecrackers for Diwali. As Akash attempted to move back toward his house, one of the men drew a weapon and fired at him. Rishabh, who tried to intervene by running after the men, was also shot as he attempted to protect his uncle and stop the attackers from fleeing.
Emergency services were called immediately, and the three victims were transported to the hospital. Tragically, Akash and Rishabh were declared dead upon arrival, while Krish remains in critical condition but is stable. The local police arrived shortly after the incident, responding to a PCR call received around 8:30 pm, and cordoned off the area. Bloodstains and other evidence were discovered at the scene, underscoring the brutality of the assault.
Initial investigations indicate that this violent attack may stem from a longstanding personal dispute over land. Akash's wife informed the police that she recognized the attackers and disclosed that her family had been embroiled in a property-related conflict with the assailants for several years. She shared that the tension between the families had intensified recently, culminating in this brutal Diwali attack. Akash’s brother, Yogesh Sharma, corroborated her account, adding that the accused had previously staged an attack on their own house in an attempt to implicate Akash’s family in a legal case. Yogesh further alleged that when they tried to report the incident, police deleted footage from their phones, claiming it showed their family in a negative light and accusing them of engaging in fights, which he says were instigated by the accused.
DCP Shahdara Prashant Gautam, speaking to the media, confirmed that the attack involved at least five rounds of gunfire. He stated that police were looking into personal enmity as a primary motive and that the suspects are well known to the victims’ families. DCP Gautam added that statements from Akash’s family and other witnesses would be taken to aid the investigation. The authorities are reviewing CCTV footage from nearby cameras in the area to gain further insights into the incident and trace the attackers’ movements before and after the shooting.
As news of the double homicide spread, local residents and community members expressed their shock and concern over the safety and rising violence in the neighborhood. They noted that the attack, particularly during Diwali, has cast a dark shadow over the festival, which is traditionally a time for celebration and family gatherings. Local leaders have called for increased security measures in residential areas to prevent further incidents and are pressing for a swift investigation and justice for the Sharma family.
This incident has intensified discussions around crime, personal vendettas, and the broader issue of gun violence in the capital, with many urging authorities to take stronger actions to address conflicts that escalate into deadly confrontations. As the investigation progresses, Delhi police have assured the community that they are working diligently to bring the perpetrators to justice and will update the public as they uncover further details about the motive and potential accomplices in this tragic case.
