A serving Indian Army Brigadier and his son were allegedly beaten up by a group of goons in Delhi’s Vasant Enclave on Friday (April 11) for protesting the consumption of alcohol in a parked car near their home. The attacks on the army officer and his family triggered a social media outrage over police inaction.
The videos and images of the alleged attackers went viral on social media, as several military veterans and civilians shared the details. The Delhi police said they were investigating the matter and would revert with a detailed statement on the incident soon.
According to the social media posts, the attacks on the Brigadier and his son happened around 10 pm on Saturday (April 11) when the two were out for a post-dinner walk near their residential society.
As they strolled, the officer and his son saw a couple of persons, identified by them as non-residents of their residential society, consuming alcohol while seated in a parked car.
The Brigadier and his IIT-graduate son reportedly asked two persons seated in the parked car to stop drinking in a public place. However, the situation escalated into a verbal duel, following which the Brigadier called the police helpline.
After the police emergency response team arrived at the spot and began their inquiries, a group of eight arrived in vehicles in support of the two men drinking in the parked car.
The group reportedly attacked the Brigadier and his son, and manhandled the army officer’s wife, with the policemen watching the violence as mute spectators.
The Brigadier and his son were severely injured in the attacks. The army officer then reached the Vasant Vihar police station nearby to lodge a complaint, which was not immediately registered as a First Information Report (FIR) by the police, the victims of the violence claimed.
However, after a social media outrage, the police registered the FIR, according to another military veteran, who claimed to have spoken with the Brigadier on the phone regarding the incident. He also claimed that the police also did not extend any medical assistance to the injured army officer and his son.
Meanwhile, the Indian Army on Monday (April 13) said the military police would get involved in the matter and help the army officer who was attacked.
The Army statement said: “The authorities in the Indian Army have taken serious cognizance of the case. A Military Police team has been directed to assist the Officer. The Delhi Police has been approached for expeditious investigation and to take action on priority.”
The second veteran said the assault was carried out by the accomplices of the two men who had been drinking, describing them as “antisocial elements.”