‘Op Safed Sagar’ veteran attacked with iron rod over parking dispute in Gurugram

Gurugram: A retired Indian Air Force officer and Kargil War veteran has alleged that he was attacked with an iron rod by a parking attendant at Magnum Global Park in Haryana’s Gurugram, leaving him with serious head injuries and a fractured hand. The veteran has also accused the attendant of threatening to kill him.

Group Captain Amit Kumar Gupta (retired), who was part of the Indian Air Force’s ‘Op Safed Sagar’ during the 1999 Kargil War, made the allegations in a complaint submitted to the police. He has also claimed that he did not receive adequate assistance from the local police following the incident and alleged that the hospital’s medico-legal case (MLC) report did not accurately record his injuries.

According to Gupta, he had visited the Gonzo restaurant at Magnum Global Park with his family for dinner on Thursday night. He said that after dropping off his family near the venue at around 8 p.m., he went to find a parking space for his vehicle.

Gupta alleged that the parking personnel repeatedly directed him to different areas, including the valet section, basement and the multilevel parking facility, before eventually refusing to park his vehicle.

He further alleged that while he was attempting to reverse his car, one of the attendants struck the vehicle’s windshield, apparently trying to damage it.

Speaking to NDTV, Gupta said he got out of his vehicle to object to the attendant’s conduct, following which the situation escalated. He alleged that the parking attendant picked up an iron rod and struck him twice, once on his hand and again on his head.

Gupta said the assault left him bleeding heavily and claimed that the accused also issued threats to his life.

He alleged that despite the presence of security guards and other parking employees, nobody immediately intervened. Gupta also said he contacted the police helpline but claimed that no police personnel arrived for nearly 30 minutes.

According to Gupta, a chef at the restaurant eventually stepped in and intervened, preventing the situation from escalating further.

He was subsequently taken to Medanta Hospital in an ambulance for treatment. Gupta said he suffered serious injuries to his head and elbow and underwent surgery, during which plates were used to stabilise and fuse the injured elbow bone.

Describing the incident as sudden and unprovoked, Gupta said he had little opportunity to protect himself from the attack.

He has also alleged that the MLC prepared by the hospital failed to mention the bleeding from his head and the injury to his elbow. Gupta has sought strict action against the accused and urged the police to register an FIR for attempted murder and causing grievous hurt.

‘Operation Safed Sagar’ was a high-altitude air operation undertaken by the Indian Air Force to flush out Pakistani infiltrators from occupied Indian positions in the Kargil sector in 1999.

An OTT series released in August also highlighted the operation and paid tribute to the Indian Air Force personnel who participated in it.

IANS