Noida man on fast for 8 days against police ‘atrocity’

A 34-year-old man, who has been on a fast unto death for over a week, was admitted to the district hospital in Sector 30 on Sunday after his condition worsened.

A 34-year-old man, who has been on a fast unto death for over a week, was admitted to the district hospital in Sector 30 on Sunday after his condition worsened.

Neeraj Pradhan was admitted to hospital on Sunday. He said the police ‘lathicharged’ protesting villagers of Chithera village in Dadri.

Neeraj Pradhan was on the fast demanding action against the alleged police atrocity on protesting villagers of Chithera village in Dadri, Greater Noida.

Pradhan has refused to take anything orally at the hospital. The doctor attending on him said if Pradhan continues to refuse food, then they may have to refer him to Meerut as his condition is bound to deteriorate further.

“He has refused to eat. He has been on intravenous fluid for the last three days. We don’t have a ICU facility at the district hospital. If his condition worsens, we will have to refer him to the government medical college in Meerut,” said Dr Santram, general physician, district hospital.

According to Pradhan, he and around 150 villagers were lathicharged by the police on June 28 after they protested against the electricity department, demanding regular supply to their village.

“There was no electricity in our village for three days and we were protesting in front of the electricity department office. But the police arrested some of us on charges that we had held hostage the officials. We then decided to volunteer for a mass arrest and approached Dadri police station,” Pradhan said.

He alleged that when the villagers approached Dadri police station demanding the release of their counterparts, station house officer abused them and then lathicharged them.

“The adjoining factories and IT offices near our village get round the clock supply but we have only darkness as our share. I will not eat anything unless there is action against the guilty policeman and an inquiry is set up against the corrupt officials of the electricity department,” he said.

Responding to the allegations made by Pradhan, circle officer of Dadri, Anurag Singh, said, “We are ready for a joint magisterial inquiry in which these allegations will be probed.”