Mercy death pleader dead

Dilip Machua had pleaded for both life and death. Though all his appeals had fallen on deaf years, he might be a much relieved man now, as on Sunday morning, he was able to leave the world of pain and helplessness.

On April 4, 30-year-old Machua, who had suffered a major injury to his spinal chord in a road accident last November, had written to the President pleading that he either be given proper treatment or sanction for euthanesia. The mishap had left him paralysed waist down.

But Machua passed away on Sunday at his hut in Topodera near Jamshedpur leaving behind two daughters, aged three and five. His wife had deserted him early this year. Machua used to earn a living by collecting the waste left after re-sorting of coal.

“We do not know how we will survive,” said Savitri Devi, his mother. “When we did not have money even for food, how could we take him to Delhi for treatement?”