13 handicapped street vendors attempt suicide, one dead

Varanasi, July 31 (UNI) Angered over the encroachment removal drive of the Varanasi Nagar Nigam (VNN), as many as 13 disabled road-side vendors allegedly attempted suicide by consuming a poisnous substance in the Gurubag area here today.

One of the 13 handicapped vendors, Radhey died later at the district hospital, while nine others were stated to be critical police said.

The incident took place in the Gurubag area under Luxa police station, where the 13 disabled persons running street-side shops in various parts of the temple city, protesting the ongoing encroachment removal drive attempted suicide on the main road by consuming poisonous substance.

Those who resorted to the extreme step included Tribhuwan Mishra, Namo Upadhayay, Mangroo, Om Shankar, Khalidur Rehman, Nasim, Radhey, Satish Bhai, Ramesh Bhai, Gurudev, Bharat and Sitaram.

On being informed, police reached the spot and lugged them to the district hospital, where Radhey died during the treatment.

Nine of the 12 others were stated to be in critical condition and some of them have been shifted to the Heritage Hospital. Senior district and police officials also reached the district hospital.

Meanwhile, leader of the handicapped vendors, Hardayal threatened that if the encroachment removal drive is not stopped and those whose shops have been removed were not rehabiliated, more disabled vendors will resort to the extreme step.

District Magistrate Veena Kumari Meena, however, said ''A delegation of the handicapped vendors had met her on July 28 where they were assured of timely fulfilment of their demands.

This sudden and extreme action shows they have been provoked by someone and motivated to take the suicidal route,'' she added.

''An immediate probe has been ordered to nab those who provoked the handicapped vendors to attempt suicide,'' the DM maintained.

Meanwhile, blaming the Municipal Commissioner Lalji Rai's ''uncompromising attitude'' over the encroachment removal drive for today's incident, municipal corporators and other handicapped vendors blocked the road outside the district hospital.

The protestors were demanding that strict action be taken against Mr Rai by lodging a case of murder against him and sacking him from the post of Municipal Commissioner.

UNI