A day after the shocking killing of an e-rickshaw driver by a group of men was reported in the media, relief poured in for the victim’s family on Monday.
Ravindra Kumar, 32, was beaten to death for objecting to two youth urinating in public near GTB Nagar metro station on Saturday evening.
Condemning the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex gratia relief of ₹1 lakh to the next of the kin of the victim, while Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu visited his family and handed over a cheque of ₹50,000 from his salary. The Delhi government also announced a relief for ₹5 lakh for the family.
Terming the attack an inhuman act, Prime Minister Modi, who is currently on a four-nation visit to Germany, Spain, Russia and France, directed the authorities to bring the culprits to book. The relief of ₹1 lakh will be granted from the PM’s National Relief Fund.
Job for kin
Earlier in the day, Mr. Naidu, along with BJP Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari, met the grief-stricken family at their home in GTB Nagar slums and assured a job to one of the members.
The cheque of ₹50,000 was issued in the name of Rani, the three months’ pregnant wife of Kumar, who doesn’t even have a bank account. The 19-year-old lay unconscious on the floor, unaware of the leaders’ visit to her house. “She has not been able to come to terms with the killing of her husband. She wakes up, starts crying and faints again. We will have to take her to the doctor as she is pregnant,” said Bindu, Kumar’s sister-in-law who has been taking care of Rani.
Showing a photo of Kumar and Rani’s wedding day, Bindu said it arrived on Monday morning only, over a year after their marriage on May 9.
Swachh Bharat drive
Mr. Naidu spoke to Kumar’s brothers who narrated the horrific incident. “Kumar asked the boys not to urinate in public. He was promoting the Prime Minister’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in his own way, and this happened to him,” said a brother, Rajesh.
Mr. Naidu assured prompt action against the culprits. “I read the reports in the newspapers and decided to meet you. Don’t worry, the culprits will be behind bars soon. We are with you,” he said.
Mr. Tiwari, while asking the family to accept the cheque, said, “ Aap samjhiye ye sabPradhanMantrijikitarafse hi hai (You believe all this is from the Prime Minister only).”
The two leaders also announced a job for a family member – either Kumar’s wife or younger brother Azad -- preferably in the municipal corporation as “Kumar has given his life for a civic and social cause”.
