Anita has been admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital at Rajinder Nagar, where her condition is said to be critical. Her neighbours have allegedly seen the assailant while he escaped after committing the crime.

The victim was shot at twice. While one of the bullets ripped her forehead, the other missed her. The police have also recovered an unused bullet from the spot.

DCP Robin Hibu (West) said, “Nothing was missing from the house and there were no signs of forced entry. We are looking into all possible angles, but specifically, personal enmity of the family with someone cannot be ruled out.”

The incident took place at around 7.30 am in L block at West Patel Nagar when Anita was at home with her children Heena (18) and Gaurav (14). Anita’s husband, Avinash, who owns a dairy in Patel Nagar, had left home at around 5.30 am for work.

According to the neighbours, they heard cries from Anita’s flat located on the first floor. When they rang Anita’s doorbell to check on her, an unidentified man opened the door and fled.

Avinash said, “My neighbour Bobby Arora had actually spoken to the assailant. When he rang the doorbell of my house, Bobby ji found a man, aged around 25 years, wearing a blue jeans and black jacket, opening the door. The assailant even knew my children’s name. Before he fled, he had told her that everyone was at home.”

According to a senior police officer, “A half-filled glass of water was found lying on the table. An argument may have ensued between the two which resulted in the assailant shooting at her.”

The children, Heena and Gaurav had reportedly shut themselves up in a room after hearing their mother’s cries. Gaurav had then called up Avinash on his cellphone to inform him of the incident. At that point of time, Avinash was at his dairy in Faridpur, a kilometre away from his house.