Revenge over disqualification? Fellow para-athlete held in killing of Chirag Tyagi

Police have arrested a para-athlete for allegedly murdering national-level para-athlete and gold medallist Chirag Tyagi in what investigators believe was a revenge killing stemming from a dispute over document verification.

Tyagi, 24, a resident of Basantpur Sethli village in Ghaziabad's Muradnagar area, was found dead near Sai Upvan on Saturday. Authorities said preliminary evidence indicates that he was shot dead.

The accused, identified as Yash Khatik, was taken into custody after police examined CCTV footage and gathered evidence linking him to the crime. Khatik and Tyagi had known each other for years and had trained together as para-athletes.

Athlete found dead after returning from training camp

According to family members, Tyagi had recently returned from a training camp in Pune and arrived in Delhi on May 29. He was expected to return home on Saturday afternoon.

Relatives said they last spoke to him on Saturday morning when he informed them of his travel plans. Later in the day, his mobile phone became unreachable. The family was subsequently informed by police about the incident.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Dhawal Jaiswal said initial examination of the body and evidence collected from the scene suggested that Tyagi had been killed by gunfire.

Investigation points to long-standing rivalry

During the investigation, police detained Khatik on Saturday evening. Officials said both athletes had previously trained together and competed in para-athletics events under the blind category.

Investigators found that Tyagi had earlier filed a complaint during a document verification process concerning Khatik. The complaint reportedly resulted in Khatik being declared ineligible, leading to resentment between the two athletes.

According to police, the two shared a close association that stretched back nearly a decade. They reportedly lived together during training periods and competed alongside each other for several years. Tyagi is also said to have trusted Khatik enough to share personal account details with him.

Police allege revenge motive

During questioning, Khatik allegedly admitted to shooting Tyagi with a pistol, police said.

"The motive was professional revenge. Yash Khatik lured Tyagi to an isolated spot and shot him in the back to settle score," DCP Dhaval Jaiswal said.

Investigators believe the alleged attack was planned as retaliation for the complaint that led to Khatik's disqualification.

A criminal case has been registered against the accused, and further legal proceedings are underway.

Weapon search and wider probe continue

Police said teams have been deployed to recover the firearm allegedly used in the killing. Investigators are also collecting additional evidence and examining whether any other individuals may have played a role in the crime.

Officials said the post-mortem examination is expected to provide greater clarity regarding the exact cause of death and the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Tyagi was regarded as one of India's emerging para-athletics talents. He had recently secured a gold medal in the 400-metre event at the National Para Athletics Championship held in Bengaluru, earning recognition as a promising competitor on the national circuit.

(With PTI inputs)