New Delhi: A 24-year-old delivery executive who was allegedly slapped in a dispute over a torn Rs 10 note in East Vinod Nagar died on October 20. Police have arrested two men in the case.
According to police, Sameer Hussain called the police control room around 11.03 pm on October 4, alleging that two residents had assaulted him. He said he had gone to deliver coffee and refused to accept a torn note as payment, after which the customer abused him.
In a video recorded during the investigation, Sameer recounted his version. He said the customer handed him cash including a torn Rs 10 note and, when he objected, told him to "take it or leave it". He alleged that another man then arrived and slapped him several times.
On October 5, police learnt that Sameer had allegedly consumed a poisonous substance. He was admitted to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital, where he died on October 20. An FIR had been registered at Kalyanpuri police station on October 5 itself.
After his death, Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with abetment of suicide, was added to the case. The two arrested men have been identified as Rakesh alias Bunti (30) and Rampal Singh (65). The probe is on.
The death has renewed focus on the safety of night-shift delivery workers, with complaints of disputes between customers and delivery staff being recorded. Locally, there are demands that the family of the deceased get justice as the probe proceeds.
The company Sameer worked for said it would review safety measures for its staff. Police are questioning both accused. The exact cause of death will be clear once the investigation is complete.