Delivery worker stabs minor neighbour in Delhi, dies hours later in suspected cylinder blast

NEW DELHI: A 24-year-old delivery worker allegedly stabbed a minor girl multiple times in east Delhi's Seemapuri on Friday evening, leaving her critically injured, before later dying in a suspected cylinder blast at his residence, police said.

The accused, a delivery executive with an e-commerce platform, lived with his mother in New Seemapuri. Police said the girl and the man were neighbours and a dispute between them allegedly preceded the attack.

According to police, a PCR call was received at Seemapuri police station at 5.33 p.m. reporting that a girl had been stabbed and was lying unconscious with multiple injuries. The incident was reported from Ravidas Mandir Wali Gali in Old Seemapuri. A police team rushed to the spot, but the injured girl had already been shifted to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital.

At the hospital, doctors declared the victim unfit to give a statement due to the severity of her injuries. The girl, a minor, remains in critical condition, police said. Based on the PCR call, the medico-legal case and findings at the crime scene, police registered a case under Section 109 (attempt to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and began an investigation.

While police were probing the stabbing, another PCR call was received at 6.10 p.m. regarding a cylinder blast at a house in New Seemapuri. On reaching the spot, police found that a fire broke out following the blast. Inside the house, they discovered the same 24-year-old man, who was alone at the time. His mother was not present, police said.

The man suffered severe burn injuries and was taken to GTB Hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

During the inquiry, police established a link between the two incidents. A lighter was allegedly found near the body, and the doors and windows were shut. Police said they are examining whether the blast was accidental or deliberate.