A shocking incident occurred in East Delhi on Monday morning when a Delhi Police constable allegedly shot his wife dead after a heated argument on a roadside and fled the scene. Priyanka Bhati was celebrating her 26th birthday on the day she was killed, police said.
Police say the couple were on a scooter when the incident took place in Kalyanpuri, East Delhi. Initial investigations suggest the husband and wife got into an argument while on their way, which soon turned violent.
Police said the husband was driving the scooter and Priyanka was pillion. The couple was heard arguing on the way over an undisclosed issue. The constable stopped the scooter by the roadside and both of them got out of the vehicle.
Witnesses and initial findings indicate that the verbal altercation continued after they stepped off the scooter. Moments later, the constable allegedly drew out his service weapon and shot his wife, leaving her critically injured.
After opening fire, the accused abandoned Priyanka on the road and fled the area on the scooter before anyone could intervene. Local residents notified the police after seeing the woman lying in a pool of blood.
Police arrived and seized the body. She was sent for a post-mortem examination to investigate the cause of death and help investigators in the case.
In the course of the investigation, the officers identified the accused as Manish Bhati, a Delhi Police constable working in the Anti Auto Theft Squad (AATS) in East Delhi. He is around 30 years old.
The victim Priyanka Bhati was a school teacher. Investigators found out that Monday, the day of the incident, was her birthday, and her family was even more devastated.
The Delhi Police launched a massive manhunt to trace the absconding constable. Teams have already been formed and raids have been conducted to locate any possible hideouts and locations of the accused.
Police have informed Priyanka’s family about her death and are recording statements from relatives and witnesses as part of the investigation. The shooting and the couple’s past domestic disputes are also being investigated.
All efforts are being made to arrest the accused at the earliest. Further legal action will be taken once he is captured, and investigators will continue examining the full circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community and raised fresh concerns about domestic violence and the misuse of firearms, especially when the accused is a serving law enforcement officer, police officials said.
