A 20-year-old youth was stoned to death in East Delhi for beating the accused over refusal to offer liquor and money, police said on Monday. The incident took place on the first day of the New Year in the area of Ghazipur Police Station.

A case of murder was registered at Ghazipur Police Station. All three accused in the case including the juvenile involved in the murder have been apprehended. The two accused have been identified as Himanshu, 22, and Nitin Kumar, 22. Further legal action is being taken in the matter.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, East Delhi, Amrutha Guguloth said that on January 1, information regarding a body lying at a vacant land in the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) paper market opposite Khora Colony was received at Gazipur Police Station.

Immediately, a police team reached the spot and found that a male body was lying near the boundary wall of the vacant plot. The face of the deceased was severely crushed. On inquiry, the deceased was identified as Vikash Yadav, 20, a resident of Khora Colony, Ghaziabad.

During the investigation, the crime scene was inspected and the footage of CCTV cameras installed nearby were analyzed. It was found that the deceased was last seen with Himanshu, Nitin, one juvenile and another associate residing in the nearby area.

A team comprising Inspector Subhash, Sub-Inspector Vishal, Head-Constable Amit, Kapil, Arvind and Constable Bijendra was formed under the leadership of Inspector Dhiraj. A raid was conducted at the residence of alleged Himanshu, from where he was apprehended.

Further on the instance of the arrested accused, other two accused involved in the crime were also apprehended. During the interrogation, it was disclosed that Himanshu was having enmity with the deceased because he demanded liquor and money and had beaten him in the past for refusing his demand.

On the occasion of New Year Eve Himanshu along with Nitin, one juvenile and another associate were drinking liquor at the vacant DDA land at Khora Road, where deceased Vikash too came.

A heated argument took place between accused Himanshu and the deceased, during which the deceased abused Himanshu. On this Himanshu and his associates thrashed Vikash and smashed his face and head with bricks and stones and fled the spot. Further, police are making efforts to arrest the absconding fourth accused.