Kamal Ghorui
New Delhi: A serving Army brigadier (52) and his 22-year-old son were injured after being assaulted, allegedly by a group of men, in southwest Delhi’s Vasant Vihar on Saturday night after the two objected to a couple of men drinking inside a parked car near their residence.The family has accused cops of inaction at the spot of the assault and harassment thereafter.A preliminary enquiry found lapses on the part of the investigating inspector, who has since been sent to district lines, police said. Efforts are on to trace the suspects.An FIR was registered under sections 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), 126 (wrongful restraint), 351 (criminal intimidation), 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult modesty of a woman), 191 (rioting) and 190 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) of BNS at Vasant Vihar police station.Speaking to TOI, the brigadier’s wife said the incident took place at 9.45 pm when the family had stepped out for a stroll. She was walking slightly behind her husband and son when they noticed two men consuming liquor inside a car parked near the society gate. In her complaint to police, she alleged that when they objected and asked the two not to do so, the men allegedly misbehaved, used abusive language and passed remarks that outraged her modesty.Following the confrontation, the family dialled 112, the police helpline, and a PCR vehicle reached the spot at 10.15 pm. However, the situation escalated in the presence of police personnel, the woman alleged. The occupants of the car talked to the cops and even made them speak to someone over the phone, after which no action was taken against the two, she claimed, adding that the PCR personnel, too, behaved improperly with her during the interaction.Soon after, two more cars arrived and seven to eight men, allegedly known to the two men who were drinking, stepped out. “They threw my son to the ground and started beating him,” the woman alleged. He suffered multiple injuries.When the brigadier intervened, two-three men surrounded him and assaulted him as well, leaving him with bruises, including on his elbow. His son also alleged that one of the men pointed towards him just before the attack began.The assault, she claimed, continued for around 20 minutes in full view of the PCR personnel, who did not intervene. She alleged in her complaint that during the attack, the accused continued to pass vulgar remarks at her while she tried to protect her husband and son.After the assault, the family sought assistance from police. However, the cops allegedly asked them to sit in the boot of the PCR vehicle, which they refused. The family went to Vasant Vihar police station in their own car.At the police station, there was delay and a lack of response, the family claimed. Though the brigadier and his son were injured, their complaint was not immediately registered. “When we asked why a case could not be filed, we were told a medico-legal case (MLC) was first required. When we asked police to take us to hospital, they refused and were rude to us throughout. We eventually went to the military hospital ourselves, where we were examined and treated,” the woman alleged.News agency ANI quoted an Indian Army statement saying, “The authorities in Indian Army have taken serious cognisance of the case. A military police team has been directed to assist the officer. Delhi Police has been approached for expeditious investigation and take action on priority.”
