Jaipur, June 29 (IANS) The incident involving Reshu Gupta, a young momo vendor who allegedly suffered severe burn injuries after a police constable threw boiling water on her while clearing the route for a VIP convoy in Jaipur’s Jagatpura area on June 19, has now reached Uttar Pradesh.
A national organisation representing street vendors has appealed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the National Commission for Women (NCW), and the Uttar Pradesh State Commission for Women, seeking justice, rehabilitation, and long-term support for the victim. Reshu Gupta, a resident of Ambedkar Nagar district in Uttar Pradesh, had moved to Jaipur with her sister following the death of their father, Lal Bahadur Gupta, in 2020, to support her family through street vending.
On June 19, Reshu, a momo vendor, was operating her roadside stall on Mahal Road as part of her daily livelihood. At the time, the VIP convoy of Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma was scheduled to pass through the area, and police personnel were clearing roadside vendors and temporary encroachments along the route.
According to the victim, police personnel directed her to remove her stall immediately. She requested two minutes, explaining that the water in her momo steamer was boiling. It is alleged that during the clearance operation, a police constable pushed the stall or struck it with a baton, causing the boiling water from the steamer to spill onto Reshu. She sustained severe burn injuries to her chest, arms, abdomen, and thighs. Reshu was rushed to a nearby hospital by her sister, Khushbu Gupta, with the assistance of local residents. On June 22, Khushbu lodged an FIR at Ramnagaria Police Station regarding the incident.
The case gained widespread public attention on June 24 and 25 after a video of the incident and the victim’s statement circulated widely on social media, triggering criticism of VIP security arrangements and the handling of roadside vendors during convoy movements.
Now, in separate representations addressed to the UP Chief Minister and the women’s commissions, the organisation urged authorities to take immediate steps to ensure the victim’s safety, rehabilitation, and financial assistance. It also requested the National Commission for Women and the Uttar Pradesh State Commission for Women to take suo motu cognisance of the incident.
Shyam Kishore Gupta, National President of the organisation, said the tragedy has left the family’s sole breadwinner unable to work and is likely to have a lasting impact on her future. He appealed to the Uttar Pradesh government to provide Reshu Gupta with a vending space in a developed vending zone in a major city of the state, enabling her to rebuild her livelihood with dignity and security.
The organisation has further urged the Uttar Pradesh government to establish more planned vending zones across the state so that street vendors and unemployed youth are not compelled to migrate to other states in search of employment.
Shyam Kishore Gupta also stated that if government assistance is delayed, the organisation will make independent efforts to secure a vending space for Reshu in one of the Pink Vending Zones operating in various cities across Uttar Pradesh. He added that a delegation of the organisation will soon visit Jaipur to meet Reshu Gupta and her sister, Khushbu, and extend legal, financial, and humanitarian support.
Meanwhile, the Rajasthan government has announced that it will bear the full cost of Reshu Gupta’s medical treatment, provide financial assistance, and allot a dairy booth for the family’s rehabilitation.
The accused police constable has also been transferred to the police lines. However, Reshu Gupta has expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s response.
“Merely transferring the constable to the police lines does not constitute justice for me. I want full justice. I am not satisfied with this announcement,” she said.
Describing the severity of her injuries, she added, “Half of my body is burnt. I only want the government to understand my pain and ensure that I receive justice.”
Responding to the rehabilitation measures announced by the government, Reshu said she was not seeking compensation or other benefits. “I have no such demands from the government. What I want is justice and decisions that take my future into account,” she said.
The organisation reiterated its demand for a fair investigation, appropriate legal action against those responsible, and meaningful rehabilitation measures to ensure the victim can rebuild her life with dignity.
–IANS
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