After man bleeds to death, Good Samaritan Policy announced

Acting to make citizens more responsive to accident victims after passers-by let a 32-year old man bleed to death, the Delhi government on Thursday announced that it will bring a scheme soon to reward those who come forward to assist victims at such times.

"It was very sad to know that the people didn't come forward and help the accident victim who lay bleeding on the road," Delhi Transport Minister Satyendar Jain told reporters here.

"The government has made a scheme to reward people, including auto or taxi drivers, for helping accident victims and rushing them to hospital," Jain said.

His remarks came following the death of Matbool in west Delhi's Subhash Nagar area on Wednesday morning. Matbool, an e-rickshaw driver and part-time security guard, bled to death on the road after being hit by a speeding goods auto rickshaw from behind.

Matbool, who hailed from West Bengal, lay on the road unattended for almost an hour till the police were informed. He was declared brought dead to hospital due to excessive bleeding. He used to live with his family in Tihar village of west Delhi, police said.

CCTV footage shows the driver of the goods auto rickshaw that hit Matbool alighting and checking if his vehicle had been damaged, but he ignored the bleeding man. He then drove away.

It also shows a rickshaw puller stopping by to check, and then picking up Matbool's mobile phone and cycling away.

Police on Thursday evening identified the goods auto rickshaw driver as Rajesh and impounded his vehicle.

A case of negligent and rash driving was registered by the police.

Transport Minister Jain said that if people save the life of any person, they would not face harassment.

He said the scheme is named 'Good Samaritan Policy'.

"The scheme aims to provide cash reward as well as public felicitation by the government to those who help accident victims," Jain added.

"We will bring the bill into the house this month and get it cleared from the Lt. Governor," Jain said.

"It seems that people fear while helping accident victims thinking they may face legal trouble," he said, adding, "I want to inform all that no one can be harassed as per the Supreme Court ruling."

--IANS

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