Lying on a charpoy in his house in Haryana’s Ghamroj village, Ashok Kumar says he cannot imagine his life ever being “normal” again.
On 8 September, a year ago, Ashok was wrongly accused of murdering a seven-year-child on the premises of a private school in Bhondsi, Gurugram. The child’s throat was slit, and his body left in a pool of blood.
The murder shook the nation – as a family lost their son. But for Ashok’s family, the loss suffered was real too.
For the last one year, the charpoy has become almost like a second skin to a scarred Ashok, who was once a bus conductor at the private school, but now has lost all motivation.
'I’ve Nightmares of Police Beating Me Up Even Now’
Natural light illuminates the room that Ashok has rarely left since his acquittal in February 2018, but the dark and isolated hole that his life has become is evident as he starts speaking, rather reluctantly.
I have nightmares of police beating me up even now. I am scared to step out of my house. I keep thinking someone is going to beat me up if I go on to the streets. I am helpless.Ashok Kumar to The Quint
One year later, Kumar says that he is still fighting the consequences of police brutality. He complains of constant lower backache, and is still struggles to walk.
Ashok spends most of his day on the bed, and goes for short strolls across the house compound, when forced by his family. Ashok lives in a compound with two rooms, along with his wife, two children and his parents.
Under pressure to solve the case, the Gurugram police allegedly forced Ashok to confess to the crime.
Everyone asks me why I told the police I murdered the child. But when you are beaten up so badly, you don’t have a choice. I could not take the pain anymore. They said my family would be affected if I did not do as they said. I was scared. Anyone in my place would have done it.Ashok Kumar
However, in January 2018, the Central Bureau of Investigation, in its charge sheet, alleged that a 16-year-old juvenile committed the crime in a bid to postpone exams and cancel a scheduled parent-teacher meeting.
“Bhaiya Broke Family’s Trust”
Ashok’s 24-year-old sister, Santosh, quiet until then, whispers that “his confession let the entire family down.”
“Bhaiya broke the trust of the family by admitting to a crime he never committed. Our lives have never been the same again. No one sees him without the ‘murderer’ tag, even if he is innocent,” she tells The Quint.
‘Not Earned Even A Rupee In A Year’
Like Santosh, Ashok’s mother Kela too is worried about the ‘murderer’ tag attached to her son. She says that he is too weak to work, but believes that he won’t be able to work even if he wants to.
“He has not earned even one rupee for the last one year. He wanted to sell vegetables. But if he goes even a little further away from this neighbourhood, he gets called ‘maar daalnevaala’. We are poor people who have to fight for every day roti,” she says, as she continues with her daily chores.
She adds that the possibility of him finding a job does not look bright, as his health condition does not allow him to even bend and pick things from the floor.
“We cannot afford treatment. We smear balm on him whenever he complains of too much pain,” the mother says, dejected.
‘Everyone But Villagers Deserted Us’
As a bus conductor, employed with the private school, Ashok used to earn Rs 6,500 every month. He also used to ride autos in Bhondsi for additional income.
“We are all worried about educating the children now. We have to pay fees of Rs 8,000 for each of them. There is no one who can help us except ourselves. The neighbours have helped more than what we asked for,” narrates Amit Kumar, Ashok’s 65-year-old father.
He says that without the support of the village, the family would not have won even half the battle.
“Everyone deserted us, including the Gurugram lawyers. They refused to even hear our side of the story. But our neighbours stood by us and fed us for nearly two months,” says Amit.
‘Want To Be Left Alone’
While the family has not lodged an official complaint against the Gurugram police, the state government has not ordered an enquiry and not a single police officer who interrogated Ashok has been suspended.
When asked if they would sue the police, Ashok’s mother folds her two hands, and says: “We just want to be left alone. He was proven innocent because of God’s blessings. Who else is there for people like us? We just want the kids to study well now.”
Ashok’s son Rohan, who is studying in class four, looks at his grandmother, saying, “Papa kuch nahi kiya. Papa achcha hain na?”
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