Cops beaten up by drunk men in restaurant

The SIs — Neeraj, Rajinder Khatri and Sunil Kumar — and their acquaintance were dining in the Konarak hotel in Dilshad Garden around 11 p.m. yesterday. While Neeraj is posted with the security branch, Sunil Kumar is from the Krishnanagar police station. Rajinder Khatri is currently under suspension. DCP (north-east) Muktesh Chander says: “There is no question of personal enmity or a calculated attack on the policemen. This was was a spur-of-the-moment incident. The sub-inspectors were like the other guests, they just happened to be there. If the assailants had known that their victims were policemen, they probably would not have gone so far.”

None of them were in uniform when the incident occurred. Employees at the hotel say two men in an inebriated condition walked into the dining hall around 11 p.m. and sat next to the policemen.

“They were boisterous. When the waiters went to ask for their orders, they demanded a particular dish which we do not prepare. They shouted back and started abusing our employees,” said a manager. The three policemen then intervened. A heated argument ensued between them, following which the two men left promising to return soon.

They returned around 11.30 p.m. The hotel employees say that this time they came in a Tata Sumo and were accompanied by at least five more persons. They went on a ramapage inside the dining hall and beat up the policemen with rods and knives. The three sub-inspectors and their friend sustained head injuries. Neeraj was reportedly stabbed. They were taken to GTB hospital and discharged this afternoon.

Investigations led the local police to three of the assailants — Yogender, Vaibhav and Pramod — all partners in a construction business.