A sanitation worker was stabbed and injured by an unknown youth at Shrilal Chowk in Govindpuri on Tuesday morning. At the time of the incident, the attacker's accomplice was recording a video. The two had arrived on a motorcycle. A short while later, the video went viral on social media.
Details Of The Targeted Assault On Raju
According to information, 38-year-old Raju, a resident of Govindpuri, is a permanent sanitation worker with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). On Tuesday morning at around 7 am, he was sweeping in front of the petrol pump near Shrilal Chowk.
Just then, a youth holding a sharp knife approached Raju and, standing near him, began to shout abuse. Before Raju could understand what was happening, the youth attacked him with the knife. Following the sudden assault, the sanitation worker fled and raised an alarm upon reaching the petrol pump. The attackers ran after him but stopped and then fled on their motorcycle.
Pattern Of Violence: Second Attack In One Week
On January 29, another sanitation worker was stabbed and injured in a very similar incident. The attacker advances to strike sanitation worker Uday with a knife on the morning of January 29.
Vinod, the head of the MCD Sanitation Workers' Union for Govindpuri block, stated that on the morning of January 29, a youth named Uday was stabbed and injured at this very same spot. There were also two youths involved in that incident. The union head claims that this is the third major incident in four months.
MCD Workers Launch Strike And Roadblock
Angered by the recurrence of the attack, the sanitation workers have stopped working, demanding the arrest of the assailants. As soon as other sanitation workers learned of the incident, they all gathered at the scene. They blocked the road and staged a sit-in protest on the spot. They all sat by the roadside, staging a dharna (sit-in protest).
The injured employee informed the police and the sanitation inspector (safai daroga). The police arrived at the scene and took him to the hospital. Upon receiving information, officials from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Station House Officer (SHO), along with a police force, arrived at the scene.
Outrage Over Police Inaction
The protesting employees were angry at the police's inaction. They chanted slogans of 'Police Murdabad' (Down with the police). Vinod, the union head, alleged that the police did not act promptly on the January 29 matter. As a result, the emboldened criminals have carried out a second attack.
The union head further stated that the miscreants are carrying out attacks while recording videos and have sent a threatening audio and video to a worker named Rahul, yet the police have still not been able to catch them.
Official Investigation And Next Steps
To track down the attackers, the police are examining CCTV footage. DCP South East Dr Hemant Tiwari stated that two police teams are investigating the case. The police have received some leads. The attackers will be arrested soon.