70-year-old thrashed over scratch on SUV in Panchkula

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, November 26

The police have arrested a man for allegedly beating up a 70-year-old man with a stick over a petty issue – a scratch on his new SUV in a minor collision that occurred due to his own rash driving.

The suspect has been identified as Manoj Kumar (43), a resident of Sector 11.

After a video of the incident, that took place on November 22, went viral, the police took suo motu cognisance of the “inhuman behaviour” against the senior citizen. A case was subsequently registered under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 294 (obscene acts) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

Ram Sarup Kalra, in his complaint, told the police that on November 22 when he was walking back home from a nearby park, he saw an Innova car coming towards him.

“I signalled the driver to slow down since I had to take a turn towards my home and the space on the street was narrow with a car parked on one side. However, the driver did not slow down and hit my foot and I eventually fell down. After hitting me, the driver came out of the car and threatened me with a sharp object. I got scared. The suspect picked my walking stick and started beating me up mercilessly with it. He kept on abusing and thrashing me. Local residents came to my rescue. Some senior citizems asked the man not to beat me up. He threatened to eliminate me if was seen around that street or park again. He also threatened me against reporting the matter to the police,” the FIR stated, quoting the complainant.

The victim said he was traumatised and could not muster the courage to go out for a walk.

In the video, apparently recorded from a neighbouring house, the suspect can be seen beating up the victim with a stick. Despite voices from around the neighbourhood to stop, the man kept on abusing the senior citizen and intimidated him.

According to the police, the victim is an insurance surveyor. “For this criminal act, the police will also write to the insurance regulator, IRDA, to take appropriate action,” the police said.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.