Police in the national capital have initiated legal action following the tragic death of a 16-year-old boy who fell from the rooftop of a shopping complex in Model Town last Sunday. An First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against unidentified individuals, and officials from the Northgate Mall are being questioned as part of the ongoing investigation.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The victim, identified as Kabin Kumar, was a resident of Gujranwala Town II in northwest Delhi and was a Class XI student. The case has been filed under section 106 (causing death by negligence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Preliminary inquiries reveal that Kabin was at the mall with three of his classmates when the incident occurred.
A visit to the site showed that Northgate Mall is segmented into three sections, housing various cafes, restaurants, and gyms. The fatal fall happened in the central part of the building, an area with several vacant shops. Initial accounts from staff at mall outlets suggest the teenagers might have used a rear door of a neighboring building to gain access to the rooftop. From there, they allegedly climbed onto a plastic sheet covering a section of the main mall structure, from where Kabin fell. A hole is reportedly visible at the spot.
Conflicting Accounts and Safety Lapses
While earlier reports indicated the boy fell from the rooftop of 'Invitation K' restaurant, its management has denied this. They stated that all access points connecting their premises to other parts of the mall were securely locked before the incident. A relative of Kabin had earlier mentioned that the boy left home after taking Rs 100 from his mother, saying he was going to play billiards with friends. Restaurant officials cited this to assert that the teenagers never entered their establishment.
Local witnesses present in the complex indicated that it is not unusual for young people to move between buildings or spend time on the rooftops. They pointed out that the iron railings along the top floor of the central area, which support the plastic-fibre sheet stretched over defunct shops, are often used as footholds by those trying to cross. Although there is no direct internal mall access to this risky zone, several back doors and emergency staircases in adjacent buildings lead to the rooftops.
Family's Anguish and Police Probe
"He was a bright boy, we don't know how he got there," expressed a grieving relative who visited the site on Tuesday. The family, while pointing towards the plastic sheet and tracing a possible route, emphasized that the area should have been strictly off-limits. "It was our child today, it could be anyone else's kid tomorrow," added another family member, highlighting broader safety concerns.
The family had earlier mentioned being shown a social media reel allegedly made by the boys, which might be connected to the incident, but its direct link remains unconfirmed. They had also raised suspicions of foul play. Delhi Police are currently awaiting the forensic analysis report from the teenager's mobile phone to determine if he was recording videos or reels at the time of the fall.
The investigation continues to piece together the exact sequence of events and establish liability for the apparent security lapses that led to this preventable loss of a young life.
