Para-lifter battles for life after being brutally attacked

A partially handicapped power lifting athlete who had represented India at international events was brutally assaulted by a group of seven-eight men last Saturday in central Delhi's Paharganj area.

The victim identified as Anil (42), is currently admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at BL Kapoor hospital and is said to be in a critical condition. He has been operated upon and had lost his kidney, pancreas and a portion of the intestines in what the police suspect to be a matter of personal rivalry.

Anil's family has said that he had represented India at Spain. He competed in the physically disabled category for power lifting. Further, he also ran his own snack shop at Hanuman Mandir in CP. "My brother had gone out for dinner with his two friends- Mohit and Mohan Chand. While they were returning from the hotel in Paharganj his friends told that Anil got a call from someone. Due to which, he got out of his i10 car. Talking on the phone, Anil was walking out when he met a friend of his," his wife Lalita said.

An argument took place between Anil and that friend. Within a few minutes, that friend gathered some more men and they started assaulting Anil. When the two of Anil's friends tried to save him, one of them fled while the other person was also beaten up. The case came to light when the athlete's friends were contacted by his wife late in the night.

DCP (central) M S Randhawa has confirmed the incident and have registered a FIR and said that hunt is on to nab the accused.

The investigation has revealed that they were allegedly beating him and they assaulted him with sticks and stones. "They allegedly assaulted him and then grabbed his friends from their car. They were beaten up by them. They also damaged their car, but managed to escape when they started screaming for help," an officer said.

"Doctors told us that they had never done such a major surgery as the one involving my brother. Even after the surgery, doctors said that it will take time for Anil to recover," Lalita further added.