Delhi man dies days after truckers beat him over theft suspicion, 2 arrested

An 18-year-old man died days after he was tied up and beaten by truck drivers in Bhalswa Dairy on suspicion of theft. Police have arrested two drivers and are searching for others as the post-mortem examines the fatal link.

In Short

• Ram Kumar was caught with four others near parked trucks
• His brother alerted police, claiming truckers tied him up and assaulted him
• Initial hospital examination noted bruises, lacerations, a black eye and leg injuries

A man who was allegedly tied up and beaten by truck drivers in Delhi after they suspected him of trying to steal cables from their vehicles has died in hospital days later, police said on Sunday.

Two men have been arrested in connection with the case, while efforts are on to trace others allegedly involved.

Ram Kumar, 18, a resident of Kalandar Colony, was allegedly caught along with four others by truck drivers in outer north Delhi's Bhalswa Dairy area on the evening of August 29 while they were attempting to steal cable and other articles from trucks, an official said.

Police said Kumar's brother made a PCR call about the incident and alleged that the truckers had assaulted him.

Police said, "On August 30, Kumar's family took him to Burari Hospital, where a medico-legal case (MLC) was prepared. Kumar was examined for bruises and laceration on his hand, a black eye and bruising on his leg, among other injuries. No vital or grievous injury was observed, and there was no active bleeding, loss of consciousness or vomiting."

He was treated and discharged from the hospital. At that stage, the matter was examined, but the family refused to take legal action.

Kumar again went to Burari Hospital on September 9 for a check-up and complained of breathlessness.

He was then referred to Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial Hospital and later to Rajan Babu Institute of Pulmonary Medicine and Tuberculosis Hospital.

He died at Rajan Babu TB Hospital on the intervening night of September 9 and 10, the officer said.

After information about his death emerged, Bhalswa Dairy police station received a PCR call at 12:36 am on September 10 about the death of a man who had earlier been beaten on suspicion of theft.

Police said, "An FIR was registered and the two accused, identified as Muntiyaz and Naeem, both truck drivers were arrested. Teams were constituted to trace the remaining accused and have been dispatched to different locations."

Kumar's post-mortem was conducted on September 12 to ascertain the exact cause of death, police said.

The case centres on the alleged assault in Bhalswa Dairy, Kumar's treatment after the incident, and the arrests made after his death, with further investigation under way.

- Ends