Serial slasher strikes again

Rajesh Talwar, who was left bleeding by 30-year-old Utsav Sharma, is currently at Delhi's Indraprashtha Apollo Hospital

Serial slasher strikes again

Rajesh Talwar, who was left bleeding by 30-year-old Utsav Sharma, is currently at Delhi's Indraprashtha Apollo Hospital

Rajesh Talwar, father of murdered teenager Aarushi Talwar, was attacked in the Ghaziabad court complex on Tuesday morning by Utsav Sharma.

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Sharma had earlier allegedly stabbed former Haryana DGP SPS Rathore, a convict in the Ruchika molestation case, outside a Chandigarh court last February.u00a0u00a0

The sharp end: Rajesh Talwar, father ofu00a0 Aarushi, being rushed to hospital
after he was attacked by a youth at the CBI court premises on Tuesday.u00a0
Pic/ Mid Day

Sharma attacked Talwar, who had come to the court for the hearing on CBI's closure report in the Aarushi-Hemraj murder case, with a meat cleaver.

"I have no words to explain this. Nothing worse could happen. This is complete madness," said Dinesh Talwar, brother of Rajesh Talwar who is attending to him inside the ICU at Apollo Hospital. The Talwar family is extremely shaken after the attack. Seriously injured, Talwar was rushed to hospital as he has got severe long and deep wound on his face.

Out of danger
While doctors claim Talwar is out of danger and is stable, family lawyer Rebecca John has show indication that Rajesh Talwar, a dentist may have to shop his practise for some time. "We cannot say whether he'll be able to see his patients but we are praying he comes back soon. Nupur could not react to the situation as it has come as a shock to all," added Dinesh Talwar.

"Rajesh has got a deep cut on his face which has damaged his arteries and nerves. Both his hands were injured. So far doctors have repaired one hand while the other one is still bleeding. Due to loss of excess blood even his blood pressure had gone done," explained Dinesh.

Talwar, who was initially rushed to nearby Sarvodaya Hospital in Ghaziabad by his lawyers, was later shifted to Delhi's Indraprastha Apollo Hospital where he underwent surgery.

"His condition is stable. He has undergone surgery in the right temporal region of the face and he had deep cuts on his hands. Two arteries in the forehead were cut badly and that is why he bled so much. He has undergone a plastic surgery of the face," a senior doctor said.

The family's lawyer Rebecca John, who was accompanying the Talwar couple, also expressed concern over the poor security at the special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Ghaziabad.

"We appeared before the court at around 10.30 am and the CBI sought two hours' time. He (Rajesh Talwar) came down with the local lawyer to get some affidavit attested. We then heard the lawyer shouting that he has been attacked," said John.

Under attack
Talwar was seriously injured after Utsav Sharma attacked him with a cleaver outside the court. The attack took place as Talwar was walking out of the court after filing a protest petition against the CBI's closure report on the case.

Lashing out at the poor security in the court, John said: "It is unfortunate that it happened in the court premises, which is seen as the temple of justice. Something needs to be done when people start taking law into their hands."

"There was no security in the court and he was attacked in the full view of media and lawyers. I don't understand why people are allowed to carry weapons in the court and authorities are not able to protect citizens of the country," she said.

The court has adjourned the hearing to February 8. It has also ordered in-camera proceedings of the case.
Utsav hails from Varanasi and is the only son of Professor Sushil Sharma, who teaches mechanical engineering at IT-BHU and Indira Sharma, a psychiatrist and a professor at the Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU.

On February 12, a court had granted bail to Utsav after he furnished a bail bond of Rs 50000 as a surety of his release. He was also directed not to leave the country without the permission of the court.

At present, Utsav is out on bail and trial of the case is pending before court. However on October 14, local police had filed a chargesheet against Utsav with the magistrate. Utsav is also reportedly receiving treatment from his mother Indira Sharma.

Giving details of the attacker, Senior Superintendent of Police, Ghaziabad, Raghubir Lal said: "Utsav had come to Delhi to take part in the International India Art Summit in Pragati Maidan. He bought a cleaver from Chandni Chowk in Delhi for Rs 250 and was monitoring the case through the media. He came by bus and had kept the weapon in a bag. He sat at a tea stall and on seeing Rajesh, attacked him twice. He has been arrested under 307 IPC (attempt to murder)."

Clear cut

On Tuesday, Sharma attacked Talwar as he came out of the court and was moving towards a photocopying shop in the court premises. In the midst of the commotion, the youth was apprehended by a bystander and taken into custody by police personnel who took him to a lock-up in the court premises.
Soon after the incident, some bystanders slapped and punched Sharma even as lawyers raised slogans against the police. Sharma, who was being interrogated by the police, apparently claimed that he was upset at the slow progress in the Aarushi-Hemraj murder case and his intention was only to injure Talwar.

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