Victim of police lathicharge, Ramdev supporter Rajbala dies

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

Rajbala, who was in critical condition for the past 114 days, breathed her last at the the neurosurgery department ICU of G B Pant Hospital here at 10:25 am, 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 midnight police action, which attracted criticism from several quarters, to evict Ramdev and his supporters from Ramlila Maidan in the wee hours of June four resulted in injuries to several people, including police personnel.

Ramdev and her family had alleged that she was injured in police lathicharge. However, police had denied that there was a lathicharge 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 lathicharge or atrocities were committed on protesters," senior leader Rajnath Singh said.

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.

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