Taxi Driver Shot in the Head During Robbery Attempt in Delhi’s Badarpur: Police Arrest Two Suspects

New Delhi, July 27: In a deeply unsettling incident that underscores the growing concern over safety in the national capital, a taxi driver was critically injured after being shot in the head during what appears to be a robbery attempt in the Badarpur area of Delhi. Authorities have since arrested two individuals in connection with the attack, shedding light on a chilling plan that could have cost the driver his life.

According to early reports from police sources, the victim, a 43-year-old driver who had been operating his cab in Delhi for over a decade, was targeted during the early hours of Wednesday. The driver, identified only by his first name for privacy reasons, was reportedly responding to a late-night booking when he picked up two men in the Badarpur region, near the city’s southern fringe.

As per preliminary investigations, the suspects had posed as regular passengers and boarded the cab under the pretext of needing a ride. It was only once they reached a more secluded stretch of road that their real intentions were revealed. Eyewitnesses and surveillance footage suggest that one of the assailants pulled out a firearm and demanded the driver’s wallet and mobile phone. In the chaos that followed, the driver was shot point-blank in the head and left to bleed out in the vehicle.

A passerby, noticing the car stalled by the roadside with the driver slumped over the wheel, quickly alerted local authorities. The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where he remains in critical condition, currently receiving intensive care. Doctors say the next 48 hours will be crucial for his survival, as the bullet wound caused significant trauma.

The Delhi Police Crime Branch acted swiftly after reviewing CCTV footage from nearby areas. Investigators were able to trace the suspects’ movements before and after the incident. Within 48 hours, two men — both in their early twenties — were arrested from a hideout in Faridabad. During interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed to planning the robbery in advance, targeting the taxi driver because he was alone and operating late at night.

Officials also recovered the firearm used in the shooting, along with the victim’s stolen phone and a portion of the cash. The accused have been charged with attempted murder, robbery with arms, and criminal conspiracy under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Arms Act.

The incident has reignited public discourse on the safety of gig workers and taxi drivers, especially those who work during late-night shifts. Many in the driver community have expressed outrage and fear, demanding stronger protection and rapid deployment of emergency response systems for those in the profession.

Local residents in Badarpur have also voiced concern over rising crime rates in the area. “We’ve seen a spike in thefts, snatchings, and now this shooting. It’s scary to think you could be targeted just for doing your job,” said one commuter who regularly uses cabs in the area.

Senior police officials have assured the public that patrolling will be intensified in sensitive zones and that efforts are being made to enhance real-time GPS monitoring of taxis operating in Delhi. The incident has also prompted ride-hailing platforms and independent driver networks to call for urgent reforms, including panic buttons in vehicles, stricter ID verification for passengers, and better training in handling high-risk situations.

As the city reels from this harrowing episode, the driver’s family remains by his bedside, praying for a miracle. “He’s a hardworking man, a father of three. All he did was go out to earn a living. We never thought something like this could happen,” said his elder brother, visibly shaken.

While justice may now be underway, the scars from this crime will linger — not just in the body of the victim but in the minds of countless others who step out each night to make a living in the shadow of fear.