Jamshedpur, Oct. 22: Twenty-six-year-old Raj Singh today lost his six-day battle with death at the Tata Main Hospital, where he was admitted after being brutally assaulted by extortionists.

The garment trader leaves behind his elderly parents, wife and a one-year-old son. He died around seven in the morning.

In his tragic death, Singh reminded the citizens of the ugly face of the city.

On Thursday night, Singh was severely beaten up by a group of criminals, who demanded Rs 10,000 from him.

Singh was admitted in TMH on Friday morning and shifted to the critical care unit three days ago as his condition deteriorated and he slipped into coma. He was put on ventilation.

A post-mortem was conducted on the victim by forensic expert A.K. Chowdhary. “The victim’s spinal code was badly ruptured, suggesting that he was hit on the back with some blunt weapon. He was also struck on the head, which led to brain haemorrhage,” the doctor said.

Raj’s body was taken to his Refugee Colony house in Golmuri and consigned to the flames in the Subarnarekha burning ghat in the afternoon.

The Sakchi market place wore a deserted look as a majority of traders kept their shops and business establishments closed as news of the death spread in the morning. “The police have to act fast. Businessmen and traders cannot function in such a vicious environment. Today it was Raj, tomorrow it could be some other businessman,” said a trader.

Sunny Saini, who was with Singh on his motorcycle when the incident took place on Thursday night, said they were returning home after having dinner. “It was around 11 pm when we saw some youths arguing with a friend of ours near the Bank of Baroda at Bistupur. Our friend’s scooter had hit the motorcycle of Pintu Singh. As we intervened, our friend got away from the spot, leaving me and Raj with Pintu, who asked us to shell out Rs 10,000. When the objected, Pintu called in his associates and pressured us to pay up or face the consequences. I rushed to an ICICI Bank ATM to withdraw the money. The hoodlums took Raj away towards Tilak Pustakalaya near N. Road Square and continued to beat him. I could give them only Rs 5,000. They took the money, abused us and warned us to pay the rest of the amount the next day,” Sunny said. The police have lodged cases against six persons after Sunny lodged an FIR. Of them, two have been arrested. But the main accused, Pintu Singh, is absconding.

Raj Singh’s uncle, Surender Singh, alleged that the police had been going slow in nabbing the culprits. “Is Raj’s life so cheap that the culprits would go unpunished,” said Singh. Superintendent of police Arun Oraon said the police were on the job. “However well-connected the culprits may be politically, they will be nabbed,” he said.