Nineteen-year-old Rishal Singh, a Delhi University student, was tragically killed in a hit-and-run while distributing newspapers to fund his education. A rashly driven car struck his bicycle in Rohini, and its occupants fled the scene without aiding him. Despite being rushed to a hospital, Rishal was declared dead. Police carried out an investigation, examining over 150 CCTV cameras, and tracked down the vehicle to a garage in Haryana, arresting the driver, Saurabh Gupta, and his uncle, Pankaj Gupta. Rishal supported his family of five through his newspaper deliveries, and his death shattered their hopes for a better future.
New Delhi:
Nineteen-year-old Rishal Singh was determined to overcome challenges in order to pursue his education and create a brighter future for himself and his family. As a student at Delhi University, he distributed newspapers each morning to finance his studies. Tragically, his inspiring journey was abruptly ended when an erratically driven car collided with his bicycle while he was on his morning route in northwest Delhi’s Rohini area. The driver failed to stop or assist. Rishal was taken to the hospital but was pronounced dead.
One week after the devastating accident, police successfully solved the hit-and-run case, locating the vehicle and its occupants just before they could dispose of crucial evidence. Pankaj Gupta (40) and his nephew Saurabh Gupta (26) have been apprehended.
Details of the Accident
According to law enforcement, Pankaj and Saurabh were returning from a temple in Kashmiri Gate on the morning of March 1. Saurabh was driving at a high rate of speed when the car struck Rishal’s bicycle around 6 am on KN Katju Marg in Rohini. The impact was so severe that Rishal was thrown onto the car’s windscreen. His bicycle was dragged beneath the vehicle as it sped away, leaving the young man lifeless on the ground.
How the Police Identified the Offending Vehicle
In an effort to determine the identity of the vehicle that struck Rishal, police reviewed footage from over 150 CCTV cameras. By reconstructing the events, they traced the car to a garage in Panipat, Haryana. The investigation revealed that the blue Hyundai Venue had damage to its windscreen and bonnet consistent with the crash. The accused attempted to repair the vehicle and eliminate the evidence. However, authorities managed to locate and seize the vehicle before they succeeded.
A Aspirational Journey Ended Prematurely
A resident of Budh Vihar, Rishal Singh had four siblings—three married sisters and a younger brother who is a Class 8 student. His father works at a utensils factory as a laborer. Rishal earned approximately Rs 10,000 from newspaper distribution, which contributed to the family income and funded his education. As a first-year student at Delhi University’s School of Open Learning, his life was tragically cut short, extinguishing not only a promising future but also his family’s aspirations. They are now seeking justice.
Inputs by Hari Sharma