Day 4: No food and little water,but sepoy won’t give in

“On an average,an individual can last five to seven days without food and water. After that,his health begins to deteriorate as fatigue sets in. He should be tested for ketones in urine which develop due to starvation,” Dr S Chatterjee,Consultant,Internal Medicine at Apollo Hospital,said.

“He hasn’t been eating biscuits and fruits we sent him. On Sunday,he didn’t ask for water at all. He drinks very little because he knows there isn’t any bathroom up there,” Muthu’s colleague Mohanty,said. Mohanty had tried in vain to make Muthu come down.

The tower is located in a complex,which also houses a microwave station of the Northern Railway and,hence,is a restricted area. The Army has secured the area with the assistance of the Delhi police and Fire Services personnel and only railway personnel are let through.

“ Muthu said he would speak only to the media and so a few reporters went up on an hydraulic ladder on Sunday. But when Army officers found out,they told the local authorities to not let anyone inside,” said a policeman on duty.

However,Mani Bhushan Malhotra,SDM,Paharganj Zone,denied any additional checks had been placed. “It is already a restricted area and the Army has taken over now. We are only providing them assistance as per their requirements,” he said.

Officers of the Army Police,Delhi Police,Delhi Fire Service and Railway Protection Force who have been guarding the area ever since Muthu took up his tower perch,expressed both irritation and admiration for Muthu’s stubborn move.

“ No man would do this unless he had run out of all available options. But even after he does come down,nothing will change,” said an Army personnel.

“It is up to the authorities to persuade him. We are present here round the clock. Muthu has been pushed into a corner and is agitated. In such a situation,we cannot attempt to bring him down by force because he might jump off the tower,” said Chief Fire Officer A K Sharma.

The Army,however,remained confident of bringing Muthu down safely. “We have been making all efforts to bring him down. In fact,several senior officers including the Vice Chief of Army Staff visited the spot and requested him to come down and promised that his demands would be addressed. On Monday,the Commanding Officer of his unit also went up and spoke to him for more than half an hour. But he is adamant that he will only speak to the Defence Minister. We are still hoping that he comes down on his own,” an Army spokesperson said.