Venkaiah Naidu gives Rs 50K cheque to lynched e-rick driver’s family

Union Minister for Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Venkaiah Naidu on Monday met the pregnant widow of e-rickshaw driver Ravinder, 32, who was beaten to death for objecting to two people urinating in the public on Saturday.

He later took to the Twitter and said he has spoken to the Delhi Police Commissioner, urging for a speedy and strict action against the suspects.

Naidu gave a cheque of Rs 50,000 to the family, while the Delhi government announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh.

Condemning the incident, Naidu assured the victim’s younger brother a job.

Even 48 hours after the harrowing incident, the Delhi Police have failed to make any arrests.

A number of students from top Delhi University (DU) colleges are on the radar.

The incident led to a huge uproar in the area, with other e-rickshaw drivers alleging that student groups often created a ruckus and picked up fights with them.

Vijender, the elder brother of the deceased, who is also the head of the stand’s e-rickshaw union, claimed that two of the accused were students of the Kirorimal College.

Meanwhile, a CCTV footage of suspects seen buying liquor from a nearby shop appeared on the social media, but the police said their identities were yet to be verified.

DCP (northwest) Milind Dumbere said: “We are yet to make any arrest. Some of the suspects have been rounded up and are being questioned. It is yet to be ascertained whether any DU students were involved. We have formed teams and are raiding PGs and flats in the GTB area, inhabited by college students.”

WHAT HAPPENED?

• On the day of the incident, Ravinder, a follower of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, objected to two youths urinating in public and asked them to use a toilet
   
• Following a heated argument, the youths left but later returned with 15-20 men and thrashed the e-rickshaw driver with iron knuckles, rods, and stones wrapped in towels

...& ANALYSIS

• Ravinder was beaten to death in full public view outside a crowded Metro station, still no arrests have been made. The reluctance of the general public to become witnesses speaks a lot about their lack of trust in the police. The department must improve its image.