Parking dispute leads to clash in S Delhi

NEW DELHI: A squabble over parking space led to violence in south Delhi on Saturday after two families clashed with each other in Hari Nagar Ashram locality near Sunlight Colony.

According to reports, six people — including a 65-year-old retired defence ministry official — were injured in the incident.

The entire clash was recorded by CCTV cameras installed in the area. The CCTVs captured a man wielding a hockey stick mercilessly beating up the retired defence official Pooranchand Goswami and his family members.

The Goswami’s family has alleged that they were attacked and threatened by the members of the other party even in the presence of police personnel. They claimed that the local police were trying to shield the members of the other family involved in the clash.

Saturday’s clash over parking space has once again brought to the fore the fact that residents of Delhi have increasingly started losing their cool over trivial issues. The annual statistics of the Delhi Police show that about 20% murder cases reported in 2014 happened due to “sudden provocation” or “trivial issues”.

Goswami suffered a fracture in his hand besides sustaining bruises on his body. Goswami’s son Manoj, two relatives Pravesh and Sheela Devi, and neighbour Pradeep, were also injured in the clash.

Mandeep Singh Randhawa, DCP (southeast), said, “We have registered a case on the basis of Goswami’s complaint and his medical report. A probe is on and the culprits will be punished”. The police are yet to receive the medical report of a woman who was injured from the other family.

According to Goswami, they were attacked by their neighbour Keshav Gupta, a local property dealer, and his family members after he stopped him from parking his vehicle in front of their house. He claimed that similar arguments had taken place between them in the past as well.

“Keshav has recently purchased an SUV which he parks outside our home despite repeated requests that his vehicle blocked the space. All our previous requests have fallen on deaf ears,” said Goswami.