CM meets victim’s family; assures legal, medical help
NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday met parents of the 23-year-old photographer who was killed by his alleged girlfriend’s family in west Delhi’s Raghubir Nagar on February 1.
The visit was followed by Kejriwal’s assurance on Sunday that his government would provide the best possible legal assistance to victim Ankit Saxena’s family so that the “culprits are awarded the strictest possible punishment”. Kejriwal expressed grief at Saxena’s death and reiterated his assurance of legal help, said a government spokesperson. “The chief minister also assured the government’s help in providing the best possible medical assistance to Saxena’s mother,” said the spokesperson.
Saxena’s mother, Kamlesh, too was injured after she was beaten up, allegedly by the mother of the photographer’s alleged girlfriend, Shehzadi, on Thursday night. Moments later, the woman’s father, brother and uncle allegedly slit his throat using a ‘khukuri’ knife.
A large number of police and BSF personnel continued to be deployed in the area as the incident may lead to communal tension there. Also, on Monday, friends, relatives and locals carried out a candlelight march in Raghubir Nagar to demand justice for Saxena. Carrying placards that called to an end to honour killings, they marched from a local temple to the victim’s house in the evening.
CULTURAL ROUTE
Meanwhile, the Delhi government will start a series of cultural events across the city to send out a message against honour killing.
The festival will include songs, poetry and street plays that celebrate love, and is likely to have some star performances. The move comes after deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Monday asked the state art and culture department to organise “thought provoking” programmes based on the themes of love and the crimes of honour killing associated with it.
“The events should be organised/anchored in a way that the message is loud and clear that it is a sin to kill people who are in love,” read the note sent by Sisodia, who is also the city’s culture minister.