South-east Delhi's Aaya Nagar locality was thrown into panic on Monday morning after two assailants shot dead a gym trainer just outside a local gym. According to police, the attackers were lying in wait and opened fire on the trainer the moment he stepped out of the gym after his workout.
Eyewitnesses and preliminary information indicate that the victim had gone to the gym in Aaya Nagar as part of his daily routine. As soon as he stepped out through the gym's door, the two attackers, who were reportedly waiting in ambush, opened indiscriminate fire on him. Around 10 to 12 rounds were fired in the attack, and the trainer, critically injured, died at the spot. The assailants fled the scene immediately after the shooting.
The sound of gunfire caused chaos in the area, with people nearby running for safety. On receiving information about the incident, senior Delhi Police officials reached the spot with a heavy police contingent and a forensic team. Police have sent the body for post-mortem examination after completing the panchnama (inquest) procedure.
According to police, preliminary investigation suggests the murder may be linked to an old or personal rivalry. Police are trying to ascertain whether the deceased had any serious dispute with anyone in recent days. Officers are also scanning CCTV camera footage from nearby roads and shops to trace the attackers' entry and escape routes.
A senior police officer said the case is being investigated from every angle, and that suspects are being identified with the help of CCTV footage, with arrests expected soon. Several special police teams have reportedly been formed to trace and apprehend the accused, who remain at large.
Police noted that this is not the first such shooting outside a gym in Delhi. Officers referred to an earlier incident in the Narela area, where a property dealer was shot dead outside a gym in a case with alleged links to extortion. The latest incident in Aaya Nagar has once again stirred fear among local residents.