Delhi Police Officer Succumbs to 2020 Riot Injuries After Four-Year Ordeal
For four agonizing years, Assistant Sub-Inspector Chhatrapal Singh existed in a fragile limbo between life and death, confined to hospital rooms and his home, surrounded by medical equipment and sterile environments. The severe injuries he sustained during the February 2020 Delhi riots left him unable to live fully yet prevented him from dying peacefully, creating an extended state of suffering for both him and his family.
A Family's Life Put on Hold
As Singh remained submerged in a deep coma for extended periods, his recovery appeared increasingly distant. For his family—his homemaker wife Ritu Raghav and their two sons—daily life virtually stopped. His elder son, Yash Raghav, who was 21 years old at the time, made the difficult decision to halt his studies entirely to become his father's primary caregiver. Yash dedicated himself to transporting his father to numerous hospitals and psychotherapy sessions, putting his own future on indefinite hold.
Singh initially spent eight consecutive months in hospital following the riots. A brief glimmer of hope emerged in October 2020 when he regained consciousness and opened his eyes, leading his family to believe the worst might be over. However, this optimism proved tragically short-lived.
The Devastating Medical Complications
The trauma from the riots ultimately caused a brain hemorrhage in March 2021, plunging Singh back into a coma. He remained in a vegetative state at home until January 12, 2025, when a second brain hemorrhage proved fatal. Singh's death marks the second instance of a Delhi Police officer—following Head Constable Ratan Lal—succumbing to injuries sustained during the 2020 riots.
Although Singh received a gallantry award for his bravery, his passing gained significant attention only in October 2024 during police commemoration day ceremonies when the police chief paid homage to his sacrifice.
The Family's Heartbreaking Account
Speaking from their home in Ghaziabad's Sahibabad area, Singh's widow Ritu Raghav and elder son Yash recounted the traumatic events and the long shadow cast by Singh's prolonged illness. Ritu described receiving the fateful phone call from police on February 24, 2020, informing her that her husband had been seriously injured while on duty at Chand Bagh in northeast Delhi, where protests over the CAA-NRC were occurring.
"He had suffered severe head injuries, fractured four shoulder bones, and sustained wounds across multiple areas of his body," Ritu revealed, her voice heavy with emotion.
Despite his compromised health, Singh rejoined duty in October 2020 while already experiencing regular headaches. The situation deteriorated dramatically on March 8, 2021, when he suffered his first brain hemorrhage while on duty. "From that moment forward, everything went steadily downhill," Ritu explained. "He remained completely bedridden until January of last year, when he finally succumbed to his injuries."
A Son's Sacrifice and Loss
Yash described staying constantly by his father's side to provide emotional support and maintain hope. For a brief period, Singh showed slight movement capabilities in his body parts, but his condition ultimately deteriorated beyond recovery.
"As the elder son, supporting my family became my primary responsibility," Yash stated. "I sacrificed my education, clinging to the hope that my father would eventually stand up again, but that day never arrived. On January 12, 2025, I was sitting beside him on his bed when he passed away."
Yash is now preparing for competitive examinations to rebuild his future, while his younger brother Amarender Raghav continues his studies in Class 9.
The Unbearable Years of Watching and Waiting
Ritu characterized the years following the attack as unbearably painful, watching her husband lie immobile day after day, experiencing constant pain without the ability to communicate or move. "It was utterly heartbreaking to witness his suffering, knowing I could do nothing to alleviate his pain," she shared. "And then, ultimately, he left us forever."
At the time of the attack, Singh served as a head constable. He received promotion to assistant sub-inspector approximately one year before his death, having originally joined the police force as a constable in the 1990s. In recognition of his bravery, he was awarded a gallantry medal, with ex gratia payments and related funds disbursed on June 19, 2024.
The Singh family's story represents one of the most prolonged and tragic consequences of the 2020 Delhi riots, highlighting both the immediate violence and the extended suffering that can follow such traumatic events for police personnel and their families.
