Ramlila crackdown: Injured in police action, Rajbala dies

A 51-year-old woman, who was battling for life for about four months in a Delhi hospital after she sustained serious spinal injuries in a police crackdown against yoga guru Ramdev's fast at Ramlila Maidan, died in Delhi today.

Rajbala, who was in a critical condition for the past 114 days, breathed her last at the neurosurgery department ICU of G B Pant Hospital here at 10.25am, doctors said.

Admitted on June 4 after the midnight crackdown on Ramdev's supporters, Rajbala, a resident of Gurgaon, underwent surgery. She remained on ventilator since then and had become a quadriplegic.

The police action, which attracted criticism from several quarters, to evict Ramdev and his supporters from Ramlila Maidan in the wee hours of June 4 resulted in injuries to several people, including police personnel.

Ramdev and her family had alleged that she was injured in police lathi-charge. However, police had denied that there was a lathi-charge and claimed that she was injured in a stampede during eviction of protesters.

Grieving family members blamed Delhi police for her death. "She died due to police action. Everybody knows why police took such action against the protest. We want our mother back. Can they do that?" said Rakesh Malik, her daughter-in-law.

Expressing grief over Rajbala's death, the BJP said it had "exposed" the claim by the police, made before the Superme Court, that there was no lathi-charge on the protesters.

"It has exposed the police which had claimed that no lathi-charge or atrocities were committed on protesters," senior leader Rajnath Singh said.

Condoling the death of Rajbala, Ramdev said it was an "irreparable loss to the whole organisation and the agitation" against corruption.

"This is the ultimate sacrifice. Her sacrifice will not go in vain and millions of her brothers and sisters will continue to fight for the cause," he said in a statement.

Rajbala's condition was very critical from day one and her vital parameters were being maintained with increased pharmacological support, doctors said.

Malik claimed that no compensation was given to them and they did not expect anything.

"We don't need compensation. What do you expect from government when the prime minister or any other senior leader have not uttered a single word to us on this," she said.

Malik alleged that all injuries sustained by Rajbala had not been mentioned in the MLC report.

"My mother-in-law told the police and us that she was beaten up by the police. Even in the MLC report, all the injuries were not reported. There is a conspiracy," she alleged.

The National Human Rights Commission had on June 6 sought a report from the Union Home Ministry, Delhi government and Delhi police following allegations of "unconstitutional police action" in which several people, including children, women and senior citizens, were injured.