Man assaulted with iron object over honking to make way on narrow road

Bengaluru: A routine food-delivery run turned into a bloody ordeal for a 26-year-old laboratory attender on Lalbagh Road, who takes up delivery work after college hours to supplement his income. He was assaulted following a road-rage over honking near his house in Rameshwaranagar on Andrahalli Main Road, with the argument escalating into an attack that left him injured.

According to a complaint filed by Manoj P, the incident happened around 11.45am Sunday, soon after he stepped out for delivery work on his scooter. While riding along a narrow road around 300 metres from his house, he reportedly encountered five-six strangers blocking the way by walking in the middle of the stretch.

Manoj said he honked, following which five of them moved aside. However, one of them continued walking in the middle of the road. When Manoj asked him to move aside and make way for motorists, the accused reportedly confronted him, abused him filthily and questioned why he had honked loudly and continuously.

Manoj said, “I asked him where he lives and who his house owner was.” He became aggressive. The argument soon turned physical.

Bystanders intervened and managed to calm the situation, following which Manoj left the spot on his scooter.

However, the confrontation did not end there. A short distance away, another man ran in front of Manoj and then approached the person involved in the earlier argument. After speaking to him, he returned and suddenly attacked Manoj on his neck and head with a sharp iron object, leaving him bleeding.

When Manoj attempted to retaliate, the attacker threatened him, saying, “I will finish you today.” And a moment before he attacked again, people nearby intervened. They caught the attacker and alerted the police who rushed to the spot and detained the attacker.

Profusely bleeding, Manoj then called his relative Harish, who arrived at the spot and took him to a private hospital for treatment. “If people had not intervened, I wouldn’t have been alive. I thank the people who helped me,” Manoj said.

A case has been registered under Sections 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), 118 (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 351 (criminal intimidation) and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace). A senior officer said, “We are questioning the attacker and also verifying his past antecedents. Efforts are also on to trace the other attacker and ascertain the roles of others involved.”

Source: The Times of India