Attempt to sodomise Lepcha reason for Daryaganj shoot-out: Police

New Delhi, Mar 11 (UNI) Delhi Police today said that an attempt at sodomy appeared to be the immediate provocation for the Daryaganj shoot-out this morning, where a India Reserve Battalion constable shot dead five Sikkim Police personnel guarding a bank.

Addressing a press conference, DCP (Central) Alok Kumar said that it was India Reserve Battalion constable Nari Lepcha and not J B Subba who shot dead five Sikkim Police personnel.

Lepcha has confessed to murder and has been arrested, the DCP said, adding that Lepcha had first accused J B Subba of committing the crime in order to mislead the investigation. Lepcha bore serious injuries on his person, lending credence to his version. ''However, his account was found to have many contradictions and a sustained interrogation finally elicited the reality,'' he said.

Although the investigation to find the motive of the murder continues, the police claimed that some of Lepcha's colleagues tried to sodomise him, at which Lepcha picked up his service weapon and killed three of them. at this Luxman Subba attacked him with an axe, causing an injury on his right shoulder. But Lepcha was able to overpower subba and kill him besides two others, the police claimed.

The Dena Bank branch they were guarding is located near Golcha cinema hall and opposite the office of the DCP (Central) at Daryaganj in central Delhi.

The dead policemen were identified as Shantiveer, Vishal Tiwari, Karma Bhutia, Luxman Subba and Kumar Gislet.

UNI