IAF officer claims assault in Bengaluru road rage

A man was arrested in connection with an incident in which a 40-year-old IAF officer was allegedly assaulted and verbally abused by a group of Kannada-speaking individuals who chased him on a bike in Bengaluru early Monday morning. The police have termed it a case of road rage.

The accused, Vikas Kumar, works as a team head at a software company’s call centre, they added. According to the police, both parties attacked each other.

Purported videos showed the IAF officer, Wing Commander Shiladitya Bose, roughing up the accused and creating a scene in public. The officer was seen arguing with Kumar and hitting him, even as his wife tried to stop him.

The incident occurred while the officer was on his way to the airport with his wife, who is also an IAF officer.

Based on a complaint by the officer’s wife, Squadron Leader Madhumita Dutta, a case was registered.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Devaraj D said: “This is a case of road rage. An altercation took place, and both sides attacked each other. The accused has been taken into custody.” CCTV footage and videos recorded by bystanders suggested that the conflict could have been avoided, he added.