Gym trainer shot dead in south Delhi; cops suspect rivalry that has claimed 2 lives

NEW DELHI: A 32-year-old gym trainer was shot dead after bike-borne assailants allegedly opened fire at him in south Delhi’s Fatehpur Beri on Monday morning.Police suspect the attack may be linked to an old rivalry between two families that has already claimed two lives in the past. No arrests have been made yet.The victim, identified as Vijay Kumar, was a resident of Fatehpur Beri. He is survived by his 24-year-old wife.The incident took place around 10am near Hansa Chowk when Vijay was working at the gym. According to sources, four men were involved in the attack and were lying in wait for him outside.The suspects, wearing helmets, were on two motorcycles that allegedly had fake number plates, said a source. However, police said only two men were involved in the attack. “It appears they had been conducting reconnaissance for the past few days,” said the source.Vijay was called outside the gym by a person on the pretext that someone wanted to speak to him. He was ambushed the minute he stepped out, with the assailants firing about 12-15 rounds.Vijay suffered multiple injuries on different parts of his body, including at least two in the head. He was taken to a hospital, where he was declared dead.Deputy commissioner of police (south) Anant Mittal said a team rushed to the spot on receiving information about the firing. “Several rounds were fired by two suspects, resulting in one person sustaining fatal injuries and subsequently succumbing,” he said.An FIR was registered under BNS Section 103 (murder) at Fatehpuri Beri police station against unknown persons. Raids are being conducted at various locations to trace the suspects and multiple teams have been formed to identify and arrest them, Mittal said.Vijay’s uncle Narender Lohmod claimed that one of the attackers hails from the same village. The family suspects the murder could be linked to an old rivalry with another family from a village in Fatehpur Beri. Police are probing a possible link, and also if the Randeep Bhati-Neeraj Faridpuriya gang is involved. “The motive seems to arise from personal enmity,” said Mittal.According to the family, the rivalry dates back to 2024, when Deepak, a friend of Vijay’s brother Ajay, was allegedly attacked in connection with a long-standing dispute over a plot. An attempt-to-murder case was subsequently registered against 24-year-old businessman Arun Lohia, who was the prime suspect.The dispute escalated in May 2025, when Deepak and his associates allegedly opened fire on an SUV near Chhatarpur metro station, killing Lohia while he was returning home with his father. Lohia’s father later claimed 20-25 rounds were fired in the attack. Police arrested three people, including Deepak and Ajay, in connection with the case.On Nov 30, Deepak’s father Ratan Lohiya, a dairy businessman, was shot dead near his home when he was on his way to his dairy in Aya Nagar. The family alleged nearly 70 rounds were fired at him.Vijay’s family alleged he was targeted by the businessman’s family despite having no connection with the earlier incidents. “He had no involvement in the dispute. He had been living and working peacefully,” Lohmod said.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Delhi | Silver Rate in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi | Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Petrol Price in Delhi | Diesel Price in Delhi | CNG Price in Delhi | LPG Price in DelhiStay updated with the latest Delhi news. Download the TOI App.