Bengaluru: An IAF officer was on Monday allegedly assaulted in broad daylight in central Bengaluru, with several bystanders either standing idle or siding with the attacker, police and witnesses said.
The IAF officer was identified as Vikramanas Shiladitya Bose.
The assault, which took place around 6.30 am near Gopalan Grand Mall in CV Raman Nagar, occurred while the officer’s wife was driving him to the airport for a flight to Kolkata, where he was scheduled for a surgery.
According to a video statement posted by the officer on social media, a motorcyclist abruptly intercepted their vehicle and began hurling abuses in Kannada after spotting a DRDO sticker on the car.
"He came aggressively towards me, took out a key, and struck me on the head, causing heavy bleeding. When I tried to exit the car to stop him, he picked up a stone and tried to break the car’s windshield. He hit me again on the head with the same stone," the officer recounted.
Despite many people witnessing the incident, the officer alleged that while a few elderly locals tried to intervene, others supported the attacker.
The officer further stated that he received no immediate assistance when he approached the nearest police station. He is currently undergoing medical treatment and expressed disappointment over the inaction by law enforcement, warning that if the system fails him again, he may be forced to retaliate to protect his family.
"I have always believed in the culture and values of Karnataka, but what I witnessed today was beyond belief," he said, urging authorities to take swift action. The registration number of the accused’s vehicle has reportedly been submitted to the police.