As death toll rises, families mourn loss of their loved ones

New Delhi: Babbu was a resident of Khajuri Khas area and was beaten to death by a violent mob on February 25. His video showing a group of men attacking him, had gone viral on social media. 34-year-old Babbu had left for work on February 25 at 7 a.m.

"At about 2 p.m. he was on his way back home for lunch when he was attacked by the mob who hit him on the head continuously," said his elder brother.

The family lives in a single-room rented house where Babbu was the only source of income for a six-member family, which includes his three children aged 6 years, 4 years and 10 months. "My father is very ill and Babbu was the only source of income," said his mother Tehseen.

Although the family has received compensation from the government, it is the future that haunts the family. Babbu's wife Shehnaaz cannot speak or hear. Carrying her 10-month-old baby, Tehseen was almost in tears. "He was hit on the head and left to die on the main road of Khajuri Khas. I along with a few neighbours picked him up. He was rushed to GTB Hospital where he was declared brain dead," said his brother.

On February 27, Babbu took his last breath. "He never came out of the comma. His skull was completely broken, and we still haven't got any details from the post-mortem," said the brother.

Babbu was a daily wage labourer and taking a day off meant no food. "We knew something was wrong but never realised the seriousness of it until the afternoon when things got worse," said Babbu's brother.

The video shows about 10 men beating Babbu on the head, where he tries to fight back. However, more men pour in and start beating Babbu, hitting him on the head, after which he fell unconscious.

The death toll in Delhi violence stands at 53.