Udaipur Stabbing Case: Accused's Mom Says 'If My Son Has Committed a Crime, Let the Law Punish Him,' But Questions Why Their Home Was Bulldozed

Udaipur-A joint team from PUCL Rajasthan and the CPI(M) District Committee visited the city to gather factual informationin connection with the Udaipur stabbing case. They met with the family members of both the deceased and accused's family members who are suffering the aftermath of the tragedy.

Devaraj's parents, devastated by the loss of their son, are demanding justice. Meanwhile, the mother of the accused has been forced to seek refuge at her elder daughter's home with her physically challenged younger daughter, after their rented house was demolished by the district administration. During their visit, the team also engaged with other citizens of Udaipur to understand the broader impact of the situation.

The delegation visited the home of the deceased Devaraj, offering condolences to his parents and paying tribute to him. They emphasized that society must work together to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. They assured Devaraj's parents that they would provide any legal or other assistance they could.

The delegation also toured the sites in Udaipur where incidents of vandalism and arson occurred following the tragic event.

The team found that if the school administration had acted with seriousness and sensitivity, this incident could have been prevented. They held the school administration primarily responsible for the tragedy.

Questioning the investigation committee formed by the education department, they expressed concern about appointing an official at the principal level as the investigating officer, doubting the fairness of such an inquiry. They urged that a higher-ranking official should be appointed to conduct an impartial investigation and ensure the culprits are punished.

During their visit, the delegation also met with the mother of the accused student to hear her side of the story. She expressed her pain, stating, "If my son has committed a crime, let the law punish him." She emphasized that only a mother can understand the grief of another mother who has lost her child. She shared her sorrow with the delegation, recounting how her son did not attend the Chittorgarh Urs fair with his father but rather with his sister and denied purchasing any knife from there.

The accused’s mother expressed her deep sadness over her husband's wrongful arrest, claiming he was innocent. She further revealed that she lived in a rented house, which had now been demolished, leaving her with no shelter. Currently, she resides with her disabled daughter at her married daughter's house, as no one is willing to rent her a place due to fear.

The accused’s mother also mentioned that her son and Devaraj were good friends and used to visit each other’s homes, leaving her both heartbroken and bewildered as to how this tragic incident could have happened.

Meanwhile, the owner of the demolished house, Rashid Khan, explained that he had purchased the house in 2019 and rented it out. However, without any reason, the house was demolished, and his lifelong savings were destroyed.

The delegation included PUCL National President Kavita Srivastava, State Secretary Bhanwar Meghwanshi, District President Arun Vyas, District Secretary Yakub Mohammad, CPI(M) District Secretary Rajesh Singhvi, City Secretary Hiralal Salvi, and social activists Madhulika, Naveen Narayan, and Sarfaraz Sheikh.

How a Dispute Between School Students Escalated Communal Tension

On August 16, at the Government Senior Secondary School in Bhattiyani Chohattan, Udaipur, a dispute arose between Devaraj and a 10th-grade student over the refusal to lend homework notes. During the interval, the accused student called Devaraj outside the school gate and attacked him with a knife, injuring his thigh. Despite Devaraj being critically wounded and bleeding heavily, the school staff did not take immediate action to transport him to the hospital. Instead, two of his classmates took him to the hospital on a scooter, where he was admitted to the ICU due to his critical condition. Devaraj struggled between life and death for four days.

In the meantime, the altercation between the school students escalated into communal tension. Hindu organizations staged protests, leading to incidents of arson and stone-pelting at several locations. Vehicles were also set on fire.

To control the situation and maintain law and order, the administration imposed an internet shutdown in the city and surrounding areas from August 16 to August 21.

On August 20, the doctors at MB Hospital declared Devaraj deceased. His family refused to accept his body, demanding the death penalty for the accused. Community members also protested, putting forward several demands, including ₹2 crore in compensation, a government job for a family member, security for the family, and a fast-track trial of the case.

After negotiations between the administration and public representatives, an agreement was reached for ₹51 lakh in compensation, along with other demands. The next day, on the morning of August 21, Devaraj's funeral was held under tight security and a large police presence.