PM Modi, give us justice, says father of Kashmiri Pandit who died in hit-and-run

The deceased, who worked at an event management company, was on his way to Noida, when a speeding Thar hit his bike and fled.

Parents of the accident victim invoked their Kashmiri Pandit roots, and demand justice from PM Modi, and CM Rekha Gupta | Image from Facebook

Delhi: A Kashmiri Pandit family living in Gurugram is appealing to PM Narendra Modi for justice. Days after 34-year-old, Sarthak Matoo, was killed by a speeding Thar at Southwest Delhi’s Rajokri flyover, his parents say they want those responsible to be arrested and hanged to death.

In a video that went viral on July 1, the parents of the deceased were seen crying and appealing to PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta for justice. Sarthak was their only child.

“Pradhan Mantri ji kahan ho aap? Amit Shah ji kahan ho aap? Commissioner sahab kahan ho aap? Rekha Gupta ji kahan hai aap? Baadi baadi baatein karte ho? Mere bete ko nyay chahye (Mr Prime Minister, where are you? Mr Amit Shah, where are you? You make lofty claims. I want justice for my son.),” asked Surender Matoo, father of the deceased, as he broke into tears.

The video is being widely circulated on Facebook, Instagram and X with people commenting in support of the parents. One such comment read, “My humble request to Delhi police to take fair and prompt action in this case and make every effort to bring justice to the victims family.”

Sarthak, who worked at an event management company, was on his way to Noida for an assignment from his Gurugram home, when the incident took place.

The parents said that the media has been with them but the authorities have done little so far. The father added that he will keep fighting till justice is delivered for his son.

“This is me and my wife and we are half dead. Our only child was killed in a hit and run case on 25th June at 6.30 in the morning. Though the media has been with us but nothing has happened. I don’t know what the police department is doing. Have they arrested the culprits? No. They are roaming free while we are grieving. They left my son on the road to die,” he said in the video.

“We are Kashmiri Pandits”

The deceased was a Kashmiri Pandit whose parents and grandparents left Kashmir in the 1990s and eventually settled in Gurugram.

In the video, the family invoked their Kashmiri roots, the trauma of their migration and how they had worked to rebuild their lives after being forced to leave their homeland.

“Prime Minister ji, we are Kashmiri Pandits. Do I have to tell you what we went through? My parents died because of trauma. Our house was burned down. But we did nothing and moved on to build a new life,” said the father. “Now, my only son was killed by two drunkards. Why has the police not arrested them? Why are we only getting assurance?”

The video and the family’s emotional appeal have brought Kashmiri Pandits together in support of the family. Comments such as “All Kashmiris are with you” have flooded social media, with many expressing solidarity and demanding justice.

Another comment by Shuja Sultan Wani reads, “Whole Kashmir is with you sir.”

(Edited by Janaki Pande)