New Delhi:
Mumbai and New Delhi are holding silent protests today, seeking justice for Ansh Agarwal, the college student who was allegedly killed by his own friends in Mumbai on April 17. The protest rallies are being held at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and Andheri's JB Nagar in Mumbai.
'Ansh was only 16'; 'Anger is no reason to kill'. 'Today its Ansh, tomorrow it could be anyone else'... Just some of the placards Ansh's family and friends held up during their silent protest at Jantar Mantar in the capital. Close to 50 people came to show their solidarity to his family and lit candles in the teenager's memory.
Ansh was murdered in a mindless act of violence in Mumbai last week by a bunch of youngsters after he confronted one of them for sending a lewd text to his friend.
Ankita who came to the protest at Jantar Mantar told NDTV, "I have a brother who is as old as Ansh was. We have to stand up for each other. How can someone be killed for doing the right thing?"
Ansh's uncle, Narendra Jain said, "We can't get our Ansh back, but at least through this protest, we want to keep up the pressure so justice is done and the culprits are brought to book."
At least 12 people have been arrested including the father of the main accused, Sidhant Ghosalkar. Some of the arrested accused are minors.Mr Ghosalkar has been remanded to police custody till April 25.
According to the police, 16-year-old Ansh was beaten up by around 30 boys from his college because he objected to a lewd SMS that the main accused in the case, Siddhanth Ghosalkar, sent to his girlfriend last Tuesday. Police say Siddhanth and Ansh were from the same tuition class. Twelve accused, including three minors have been arrested in the case.
Recalling the incident, his brother says only one person came forward to help his brother.
"It is like the Keenan-Reuben case. Thirty people assaulted me and then Ansh followed me and was beaten up. They chased Ansh and beat him. They then smashed his face with a pavement stone block. This happened at around 10.30pm on Tuesday and only one person came to help me take Ansh to hospital, but I knew he was dead," said Akarsh.
Ansh's murder is almost a replay of the horrific murders of Keenan and Reuben - young men who were killed in front of a crowded bar for putting up a fight against a gang misbehaving with their girlfriends.