Showman killed for opposing forcing of liquor down monkey's throat

New Delhi, Aug 28: A 35-year-old showman, who used to perform shows on the streets with his monkeys, was killed by a man after he objected to the latter's action of trying to force liquor down his monkeys' throat, police said on Thursday.

According to the police, Ram Babu, alias Ghochu Pehelwan (36), was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly killing the monkey-showman Irfan on the night of August 14. The deceased was found unconscious on the morning of August 15.

He was taken to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, police said. "During the interrogation, Babu, who works as a labourer in the parcel area at the New Delhi railway station, told us that he was loitering around on the night of August 14, outside the parcel area in search of alcohol," said a police official.

Soon, he met Irfan who had arrived there with his monkeys. Both somehow managed to arrange some alcohol and started drinking. After they were drunk, Babu tried to force liquor to Irfan's monkeys, to which Irfan strongly objected. The argument soon turned into a fight during which Babu hit Irfan on his head with a brick.

When Irfan fell unconscious, Babu fled from the spot. Babu had earlier also been an accused in a murder case at Lahori Gate police station in 1994 and remained in jail for several years for the same, police said.

PTI