Shocking Dwarka Attack: Man's Hands Slashed with Grinder Over Rs 2L Dues
Synopsis
In a shocking act of premeditated violence, a Delhi tent service provider had his hands slashed with an angle grinder when he went to collect Rs 2 lakh in unpaid dues from a wedding client. The attacker, Ajay Pal, brought juvenile accomplices to the assault. The victim is now at AIIMS fighting to preserve the use of his hands.
Key Takeaways
Lokesh Gupta, 32 , a halwai and tent service provider from Vijay Enclave, Dwarka , had his hands slashed with an angle grinder on April 24, 2025 .
The attack was allegedly carried out by client Ajay Pal, 53 , who owed Rs 2 lakh of a Rs 2.5 lakh bill for wedding tent services provided on April 20 .
The assault involved two to three associates , including two juveniles who have been detained by police.
Gupta was referred to AIIMS, New Delhi for advanced treatment; medical examination confirmed grievous injuries from a sharp weapon .
A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Dabri Police Station ; main accused Ajay Pal has been arrested.
In a separate incident, Poonam Gupta, 35 , was killed by her husband Shobhit Gupta in Moradabad, UP , after a dispute over her gym visits.
A 32-year-old tent service provider suffered grievous injuries after his hands were allegedly slashed using an angle grinder over an unpaid bill of Rs 2 lakh in Vijay Enclave, Dwarka, New Delhi, on April 24, 2025. The victim, Lokesh Gupta, a halwai and tent service operator, was attacked by his client and associates when he went to collect pending dues. The main accused, Ajay Pal (53), has since been arrested by the Dabri Police Station team.
How the Brutal Attack Unfolded
Ajay Pal had hired Lokesh Gupta's tent services for his daughter's wedding on April 20, 2025, for a total agreed amount of Rs 2.5 lakh. After the event, approximately Rs 2 lakh remained unpaid. When Gupta approached Pal to recover the outstanding amount, the situation turned violent.
Pal, accompanied by two to three associates, allegedly overpowered Gupta and used an angle grinder to inflict deep cuts on his hands in a deliberate attempt to sever them. A PCR call was received at approximately 8:30 p.m. on April 24, prompting an immediate police response.
Victim's Medical Condition and Treatment
Police personnel from Dabri Police Station rushed to the scene and found Lokesh Gupta critically injured. He was initially rushed to Rashi Medical Centre and subsequently referred to AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences), New Delhi, for advanced surgical care.
Medical examination confirmed grievous injuries caused by a sharp weapon, consistent with the use of a high-speed cutting tool. Gupta's livelihood as a halwai and tent service provider — both physically demanding occupations — makes the nature of his injuries particularly devastating.
Arrests and Legal Action
Authorities have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Dabri Police Station. The primary accused, Ajay Pal, has been formally arrested. Additionally, two juvenile associates involved in the assault have been detained and are being processed through the juvenile justice system.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka), Kushal Pal Singh, confirmed that strict action is being taken and that all angles of the case are being thoroughly investigated. The involvement of minors in such a violent act has raised additional concerns about the planning and premeditation behind the assault.
Broader Pattern: Payment Disputes Turning Deadly in Delhi-NCR
This incident is part of a troubling pattern of payment disputes escalating to extreme violence in Delhi-NCR. Law enforcement experts note that service providers — particularly those in informal sectors like catering, tent services, and event management — are especially vulnerable to non-payment and subsequent intimidation, as they lack formal contractual protections.
The use of an industrial angle grinder as a weapon signals a degree of premeditation that investigators are examining closely. The presence of juvenile accomplices adds a disturbing layer, raising questions about whether the attack was orchestrated in advance to intimidate the victim into silence about the unpaid dues.
Notably, Delhi has seen a spike in disputes related to wedding and event services in the post-pandemic period, as vendors report increasing instances of clients refusing to honour payments after events conclude. Critics argue that the lack of a formal dispute resolution mechanism for small-scale event vendors leaves them exposed to both financial loss and physical danger.
Separate Incident: UP Woman Killed by Husband Over Gym Visits
In an unrelated but equally alarming development, a 35-year-old woman, Poonam Gupta, was killed by her husband Shobhit Gupta, a scrap dealer from the Katghar area of Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. The motive, according to police, was repeated arguments over Poonam's visits to a local gym.
On Wednesday morning, Shobhit allegedly struck Poonam on the head with an iron shutter handle after she returned from the gym and an argument broke out. The blow proved fatal. In a chilling detail, the accused then placed her body on the bed and remained in the house for nearly seven hours, allegedly attempting to stage the death as an accident before authorities were alerted.
As investigations into both cases continue, they collectively highlight a deeply concerning trend of domestic and transactional violence in India's urban and semi-urban spaces — where disputes over money and personal autonomy are being resolved through brutal physical force rather than legal recourse.
Point of View
Which includes millions of tent service providers, caterers, and small event vendors, operates almost entirely on trust and verbal agreements, leaving workers dangerously exposed when clients default. The use of an angle grinder — an industrial tool — and the presence of juvenile accomplices suggests this was not a spontaneous act of rage but a calculated attempt to terrorise a creditor into silence. Until India builds accessible, fast-track dispute resolution for informal sector workers, the most vulnerable will continue to pay the highest price for simply asking to be paid.
NationPress
2 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Dwarka grinder attack on April 24?
On April 24, 2025, a 32-year-old tent service provider named Lokesh Gupta had his hands slashed with an angle grinder in Vijay Enclave, Dwarka, when he went to collect Rs 2 lakh in unpaid dues from a client named Ajay Pal. Pal and his associates, including two juveniles, carried out the attack. Gupta is currently receiving treatment at AIIMS, New Delhi.
Who is the accused in the Vijay Enclave grinder attack?
The main accused is Ajay Pal, 53, a resident who had hired Lokesh Gupta's tent services for his daughter's wedding on April 20, 2025, for Rs 2.5 lakh. Pal allegedly refused to pay the remaining Rs 2 lakh and orchestrated the attack when Gupta came to collect. Two juvenile associates were also detained.
What legal action has been taken in the Dwarka grinder case?
Police at Dabri Police Station have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The main accused, Ajay Pal, has been arrested, and two juvenile accomplices have been detained. DCP Dwarka Kushal Pal Singh confirmed a thorough investigation is ongoing.
What is the condition of Lokesh Gupta after the attack?
Lokesh Gupta was first taken to Rashi Medical Centre and then referred to AIIMS for advanced treatment due to the severity of his injuries. Medical examination confirmed grievous injuries caused by a sharp weapon consistent with an angle grinder. His condition is serious given the nature of the wounds.
Why are informal workers like tent service providers at risk in Delhi?
Informal sector workers in Delhi, including tent service providers and caterers, typically operate on verbal agreements without formal contracts, making it difficult to legally enforce payment. This leaves them vulnerable to non-payment and, in extreme cases, violent intimidation. The Dwarka case highlights the urgent need for accessible dispute resolution mechanisms for such workers.
