Rickshaw puller Prem Singh went to buy milk during Delhi riots & never returned

Prem Singh's family looked for days before they found his body at GTB Hospital. Photographs by Praveen Jain

Prem Singh's body was brought to his home in Brijpuri, Yamuna Vihar | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

New Delhi: Rickshaw puller Prem Singh, 27, disappeared Tuesday, day three of the riots that erupted in Northeast Delhi this week. He had stepped out to buy milk for his children, but never returned home.

His family went from pillar to post trying to find out his whereabouts, until doctors at GTB Hospital asked them to look at some unidentified bodies in the mortuary Saturday evening. When they did, their search ended.

Prem Singh was one of the 43 killed in the communal carnage that tore through Delhi earlier this week. He leaves behind a wife, three children and an elderly mother whose wails rang through Brijpuri as he was taken on his final journey Sunday evening.

Also see: Hardest journey Babu Khan ever made, carrying bodies of his two sons killed in Delhi riots

Prem Singh’s wife Sunita with their two-year-old daughter at their Brijpuri residence Sunday, when his body was brought home | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Prem Singh’s younger sister Savita Devi | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Neighbours console Prem Singh’s grieving family | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Sunita outside the mortuary of GTB Hospital after the family identified Prem Singh | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Prem Singh’s mother Nathu Devi was beside herself with grief as his body was brought home | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Sunita Devi breaks down as Prem Singh’s body is taken on its final journey | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Neighbours gather around Prem Singh’s residence | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

As the body was taken away for cremation, Prem Singh’s mother screamed, “Where are you taking my child?” | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Prem Singh was cremated at the Harihar Shamshan Ghat in Babarpur | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Sunita’s bangles — under Hindu customs, a widow gives up her bangles — on Prem Singh’s body ahead of cremation | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

The body is doused with Ganga water before being consigned to flames | Praveen Jain | ThePrint