New Delhi: Twenty-one-year-old Pandav Kumar, a delivery executive and the sole breadwinner of his family, stepped out on Saturday night to attend a birthday party. Early Sunday morning, he was gone — leaving behind a family that has been battling illness and poverty, and now pushed into deeper uncertainty.Pandav’s 60-year-old mother, Meena Devi, and brother Vikas (16) are both undergoing treatment for tuberculosis. Vikas had to drop out of school owing to his illness and takes up odd jobs only when his health permits. His father, Ganesh Singh (60), a labourer, barely manages to find occasional work.Even on Saturday night, Pandav was thinking of work. Krishna, his 19-year-old cousin who was with him at the birthday party in Jafarpur Kalan, told TOI, “He insisted we return home quickly so he could complete some late-night deliveries and earn extra money.”Grief shrouded the Kumars’ rented house in Bindapur on Sunday. Meena Devi was crying inconsolably, clinging to her daughter Gunjan Devi (35) and calling out for her elder son.The family had migrated from Khagariya in Bihar around 15 years ago in search of better opportunities in Delhi.Gunjan, who lives in Shahdara after her marriage, said she used to speak to Pandav every day. “I was busy on Saturday and forgot to call him up. When I realised, it was too late. I thought I would speak to him the next morning. I didn’t know that was my last chance to hear my brother’s voice,” she said, breaking down.Pandav left home around 8.30 pm with his cousin and friends to attend the birthday party. His aunt, Chandrakala, was the last family member to speak to him. “I called him around 1.30 am and told them to leave since it was late. They said they were about to head back. I asked them to return safely,” she said.Pandav quit school after Class X owing to financial constraints but hoped to resume his studies later. He also wanted to ensure proper treatment for his brother so that he could finish his education.The family had its first brush with tragedy five years ago when Pandav’s 22-year-old sister, Kajal, was murdered.Relatives claimed early Sunday’s incident was sparked by a question about Pandav’s identity. When the former told Neeraj Balhara, the policeman, that he was from Bihar, he quickly became hostile. Gagan Devi, Pandav’s aunt, said, “The cop started abusing them. Pandav said: ‘Is being from Bihar a crime? Are we not humans? We are not committing crimes but earning by doing hard work’.” Moments later, Pandav was fired on.Krishan, Pandav’s friend who was injured, is undergoing treatment. Pooja (22), a relative of the Kumars, said, “Krishan is in serious condition. He lives in Delhi alone and his family is in Kerala. We don’t know how he will afford treatment and medication if complications arise.” She added, “If a policeman, whom we trust with our safety, can do something like this, whom do we turn to?”
