Glum, silence, anger grip Sant Kabirnagar in UP

Sant Kabirnagar, Oct 29 (UNI) The news regarding the demise of Dharamdev Rai, in a yet another attack upon the North-Indians by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists in Mumbai, cast a pall of gloom over Diwali celebrations in his native Goraiya ghat village, besides creating a furore among the locals.

As soon as the unpleasant news reached the village, the festive celebrations turned sour reports said.

Rai (28) had gone to Mumbai two-and-a-half months ago to hunt for a job, but after seeing the increasing attacks upon the North-Indians, he was finally returning home in UP, when he was beaten to death by the MNS activists in a local train at Badlapur railway station yesterday.

As per the reports, Rai had even got a job in a Steel pipe plant, but then too he had decided to return home safely leaving everything.

At the time of the incident, three of his friends -- Satya Prakash and Veerendra Rai of his native village -- were accompanying him, but failed to save him.

The youth's last rites were, however, performed in Mumbai after state police commissioner asked for the same to his father Ram Narayan over telephone late last evening.

A rush of senior police officials and mediapersons was, meanwhile, seen at his house from the morning after the incident.

The deceased the second youngest of the three brothers and a father of a 15-month-old girl. His wife is pregnant with their second child.

UNI XC-JAS AKJ HT1710