Residents claim this is not the first time Parachute Regiment Training Centre personnel have assaulted civilians in the area for no reason
Residents claim this is not the first time Parachute Regiment Training Centre personnel have assaulted civilians in the area for no reason
The on-going tension between residents of Modi Garden and personnel of the Parachute Regiment Training Centre (PRTC) has yet again disturbed the peace in the area. Residents claim that over 40 PRTC officials attacked a student from the area late yesterday evening.
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| K Kuppaswamy ex-serviceman showing his identity card after filing a complaint at JC Nagar Police Station late last night. Wife Asha Rani and daughter Niveditha also seen |
According to eyewitnesses, Jayapratap (20) was walking down the Sawarline Road at about 9 pm when the PRTC men allegedly attacked him and brutally beat him up.
"My son was returning home in the evening when these men caught him and started beating him. My neighbours witnessed the beating and rushed to inform me. I went to the spot along with my husband and pleaded for them to stop, but they got offended and pushed my husband to the ground. I pleaded with folded hands, but they pushed me also," said Asha Rani, the victim's mother.
Furthermore, residents of the area claim to be shocked at the PRTC men's behaviour and their repeated use of violence against civilians.
"This is the only road available to us to enter the area. Two months ago, they caught my 16-year-old son when he was returning from tuition classes and detained him for over three hours. I lodged a complaint at the JC Nagar Police Station and after the cops traced my son's mobile number, we realised that he was in the PRTC campus," said S Shashidhar, secretary of Modi Garden Residents' Welfare Association.
Following the alleged assault, Jayapratap was rushed to the Manju Hospital along with his mother, who had suffered injuries on her shoulders and head.
"My son has recently undergone an open heart surgery and is in a state of complete shock. The doctors at the hospital have told us that his symptoms suggest that he has undergone a traumatic moment," Rani added.
The residents have lodged a complaint against the PRTC officials at the JC Nagar police station. On hearing about this, PRTC officials rushed to the police station to present their version of the story.
"The residents have filed a complaint against the PRTC for physically attacking them. The PRTC officials on the other hand have claimed completely the opposite. They say that the residents first entered the area and used physical violence against them. We will investigate the case," said Nagaraj, PI, JC Nagar police station.
When this reporter contacted the Ministry of Defence, top officials remained unaware of the situation.
"We have contacted our senior officials, but have received no information on such an incident. We are unaware about this, but such cases have also been reported in the past.
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The PRTC has complained that sometimes when the residents trespass and enter their area while military activities and training is on, it causes a major disturbance," said Dr M S Patil, official spokesperson, Ministry of Defence.
Meanwhile, it can be recalled that MiD DAY had reported a similar instance that occurred in the same area in August 2010. Following the report, the PRTC has argued that there has been some miscommunication between them and the residents and further asserted that they would try and find a solution for the same.
The agitation began after 1997, following a petition filed against the military establishment for blocking off a section of the road that caused inconvenience to the residents. Following this the case came up for hearing at the High Court and in September 1997, the military establishment informed the Residents' Welfare Association that they would demarcate 1.6 acres of land for a new road.
However, the conflict has been on since then and today the case will come up for hearing at the High Court.
