Fitness trainer attacked in Mohali after confronting men about harassing girlfriend

A late-night binge turned into a nightmare for a 26-year-old fitness instructor. He was brutally attacked and chased by over 10 men outside a dhabha in Phase 3B2 market. The altercation broke out after he confronted them about harassing his girlfriend, police said.

The victim, identified as Bharat Bangar, 26, a resident of Sector 21, Panchkula, remains under treatment at Mohali Civil Hospital for multiple injuries on his left eye, legs, knees, hands and back.

In his statement to police, Bangar said he was dropping his girlfriend off at Kharar home on Thursday evening and on the way they stopped at the Phase 3B2 market to have some food.

As they were coming out of the dhabha after eating, three men made offensive remarks about his friend, who works in Punjab Electricity Board. They initially ignored the men and went back to his car, Bangar said.

But the three men standing near the dhabha continued to stare at his friend and made abusive remarks. They still thought it wiser to ignore them and remained in the car. But the men continued to make offensive gestures, so he rolled down the car window and confronted them.

Dragged, beaten, chased for several kilometers

Bangar claimed that one of the men attacked him in anger and dragged him out of the car before punching him in the face along with about ten accomplices.

Bangar said he ran to save his life as the assailants chased him in their cars and also on foot. “I felt that they would not stop attacking me and ran to save myself. My Apple iPhone also fell somewhere in the fray. I took cover at different places to fend off the assailants and finally reached my friend’s house in Kharar on foot. Since I lost my phone, I could not reach anyone. Meanwhile, she also came home in my car. As I lay on the bed, I immediately fainted due to pain. My friend took me to the hospital the next morning and also informed the Mohali SSP,” the victim stated in her complaint.

Meanwhile, Gabbar Singh, station house officer at Mataur station, said they had immediately started investigation after receiving a complaint. “We are scanning CCTV footage around the market to nab the accused. Moreover, a permanent PCR team will remain stationed at the said market to avoid such night incidents,” the SHO said.

DSP Ajitpal Singh said the victim’s statement was recorded and based on his complaint, a case of assault was registered.

No premiere

In a similar incident in March, a Mohali businessman and his doctor friend’s late-night dinner at a cafe in the same market ended in horror when they got into an altercation with five men, including three Nihang Sikhs, who attacked them with sharp weapons, including swords.

In the attack, the plaintiff Harinder Singh (36), who runs a private recruitment agency in Mohali, and Dr. Sukhdeep Singh Brar (33), who runs a private clinic, suffered numerous serious injuries. Harinder was stabbed eleven times, eight of them to the head and three near the right eye.