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Private ambulance carrying 5-month-old baby attacked by miscreants in Bengaluru: Report

A private ambulance driver en route to a hospital with a critically ill infant was assaulted by allegedly intoxicated individuals near a toll plaza in Bengaluru

Published on: Jun 10, 2024, 21:04:12 IST
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Late on Sunday night in Bengaluru, a distressing incident unfolded as a private ambulance, racing to Vani Vilas Hospital with a critically ill five-month-old baby on oxygen, was ambushed near Nelamangala toll plaza. The perpetrators, allegedly inebriated, recklessly pursued the ambulance for several kilometres before cornering it at the toll plaza, India Today reported.

Despite the nature of the medical emergency, the attackers were unmoved and mercilessly assaulted the ambulance driver. (X)
Despite the nature of the medical emergency, the attackers were unmoved and mercilessly assaulted the ambulance driver. (X)

Despite the nature of the medical emergency, the attackers, unmoved by the pleas of the child's parents, mercilessly assaulted the ambulance driver, identified as John, right under the watch of police officers stationed at the plaza. A video of the incident was shared by several media outlets on social media.

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The video, capturing the assault depicts the assailants aggressively attacking the driver, ignoring the desperate appeals for mercy. In the face of this horrifying ordeal, John later said the attackers appeared to be under the influence of alcohol during the assault, the report said. Swift police intervention ultimately quelled the violence, allowing the ambulance to proceed to the hospital and ensuring the safety of its occupants.

"An ambulance driver was driving his vehicle fast and overtook an Innova car. The people in the Innova opposed him overtaking the vehicle. Near the Nelamangala toll, people in Innova took over the ambulance and assaulted the driver. We have registered an FIR and are investigating further. We will find in inquiry if they were inebriated state when they were driving the vehicle," Bengaluru Rural SP Mallikarjun Baldandi said, as quoted by the publication.

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The opposition BJP in the state was quick to hit out at authorities over the matter. “The rampage of thugs, shielding of influencers for extortion, unprovoked murders, all these are common in the @INCKarnataka regime. Even if you drive drunk in broad daylight on the roads of the state, the police will not stop you! The hooligans who beat up the driver while blocking the ambulance itself shows how anarchy is rampant,” the Karnataka unit of the BJP wrote on ‘X’.

“Home Minister @DrParameshwara, do you even remember that you are the home minister of the state? So far your role was limited to making a statement. Even that seems to have stopped now. #CongressFailsKarnataka,” they added.

  • Yamini C S
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Yamini C S

    Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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