2 held for killing youth whose mother opposed drug use

Two persons were arrested on Wednesday for killing a 24-year-old man on Tuesday evening, after his mother objected to their drug consumption in a public toilet.

Deputy Commissioner of Police M.N. Tiwari identified the two arrested as Sonu, 24, and Sahil, 23, both residents of Nangloi in west Delhi.

Tiwari said the suspects were wearing blood-stained clothes at the time of arrest and had a blood-stained knife on them.

The deceased, Rahul, 24, used to work at a public toilet near Janata Market of Nangloi with his 50-year-old mother Shyamlata.

Rahul's family has urged police to provide security as the accused had threatened to murder Shyamlata if she complained to anyone.

Shyamlata said three persons came to use the toilet at 2 p.m on Tuesday and as they didn't come out by 4.30 p.m, she went inside to check on them.

"They were using drugs and when I opposed them, they abused me, so I slapped one of them," she said.

The two left after threatening Shyamlata and minutes later Rahul reached the spot.

By 4.30 p.m, they came back with around 12 people. Three of them attacked Rahul and knifed him inside the toilet complex.

"He ran out of the complex to the adjoining park for help, but rest of the gang surrounded the park so that my son couldn't escape."

Shyamlata said that three persons attacked her son with knives and swords in the park.

I begged them to leave my son alone, but they mocked me: "Why should we leave your son?"

"Then I spread my 'chunni' (veil) on the ground and begged of them to spare his life. Even my son begged with folded hands," she said.

Shyamlata said in the end, they attacked Rahul with a sword and he fell down.

"There were at least 50 people watching, but no one helped my son. Everyone just watched."

Rahul was taken to a private hospital in an e-rickshaw, but the hospital did not admit him, according to his family members.

He was later taken to Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

Rahul, a Class VI dropout, had been working at the public toilet with his mother for the past six-seven years and earned Rs 200-300 a day.

"They (murderers) should get noose and whatever happens to them, we want to watch it with our eyes," Rahul's sister, Rajni, 27, said.

"How will we survive now? Who will marry off my daughter?" the 50-year-old said and urged the government to help the family.

"I closed his eyes, I closed his mouth, he is dead," an inconsolable Shyamlata said.

--IANS

nkh/nir