Just 500 metres away from the president's quarters, A gardener stabbed his colleague after an altercation over drinks and snacks

It is arguably the most well-secured house in the whole country with contingents of paramilitary manning the
gates and cavalry residing inside. Yet the security of Rashtrapati Bhavan has come under scrutiny owing to an attempted murder on campus.

In the net: Gopal alias Rinku, works as a gardener in the Rashtrapati Bhavan and lives in the President's Estate. Pic/Atul Krishan

Though top officials are refusing to admit it as a security breach, the way a gardener posted with the Rashtrapati Bhavan stabbed and wounded another employee, who works on contract, after an altercation on September 1, points to the contrary.

Gopal alias Rinku, who works as a gardener, in the Rashtrapati Bhavan was having liquor with his friend Bal Kishan near gate number 17 from where the living quarters of President Pratibha Patil areu00a0 just 500 metres away.

It was around 6:30 pm and after having a few drinks, Gopal asked Kishan to bring some snacks. Kishan refused and asked Gopal to bring it, instead. "A heated argument followed and Gopal took out a knife from his pocket and threatened Kishan to go and get the snacks. However, Kishan refused to budge and Gopal attacked him aiming the knife at Kishan's neck," a senior police officer told MiD DAY.

Kishan tried to defend himself and his right hand got injured. But Gopal did not stop at that, in a fit of rage, he stabbed Kishan in the stomach.

"Kishan put a cloth over his wound and ran from the spot to save his life. He reached the South Avenue bus stop where another Rashtrapati Bhavan employee Kalu saw him who informed his family. In the meantime, Kishan had also called up the PCR at 100," he said. Kishan's mother reached the spot but by that time he had fallen unconscious. He was rushed to the nearby Ram Manohar Lohia hospital.

"There was a 3cm x 2 cm wound on the left side of his stomach and according to the doctors who attended on him, Kishan was in a critical condition when he was admitted to the hospital," the police officer said. As he remained unfit for recording the statement till late night on September 2 and in the absence of any eyewitness the police waited for Kishan to gain consciousness.

When the whole story was revealed to the police, a manhunt was launched for Gopal and he was arrested on Thursday after he surrendered in a local court.

Bal Kishan's father Ram Dev is a gardener posted at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Gopal told MiD DAY that he was being framed. "I was attacked by three people inside the Rashtrapati Bhavan and I flee the spot to save my life. I did not stab anybody," he said.

The police have registered an FIR of attempt to murder under section 307 of IPC against Gopal. He has been sent into judicial custody. However, the fact that Kishan was stabbed and came out of the gate unnoticed raises serious questions about the security arrangements. However, Joint Commissioner of Police, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Aditiya Arya told MiD DAY that he was aware of the incident, but the victim has not approached them so far.

"It was a personal feud. It cannot be termed a security breach. Only the victim can tell what exactly happened. They were having liquor. You can speak to senior police officers of New Delhi district in this connection as the victim is yet to speak to us," said Arya.

Same day, same gate, last year

A computer monitor, CPU and three pairs of exercising dumbbells were allegedly stolen from a health club on the Rashtrapati Bhavan premises in Chanakyapuri area of New Delhi.u00a0 According to the police, the incident occurred on the night of September 3 and the matter was reported to the police the next morning. "We got a complaint from the caretaker of the health club, Tasneem Ahmed, that a monitor, CPU and few dumbbells are missing from the office of a health club near gate number 17 of Rashtrapati Bhavan," a senior police officer said. The police have lodged an FIR and begun investigations. "There were heavy showers in Delhi that night and a CPWD worker in Rashtrapati Bhavan, Chandra Shekhar, had taken the keys of the room to look if there was any water-logging," a police officer said. "Though he returned the keys to the caretaker the things were found missing in the morning," he said. The health centre also houses the office of Wing Commander Vikrant Dutta who works as an officer on special duty and the computer reportedly belonged to him, the police said. Read Next Story Gurgaon cops seek air vigil for CWG venue› Trending Stories Latest Photos Latest Videos Latest Web Stories ADVERTISEMENT Mid-Day Fast ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT