A scientist working with the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali (IISER) was beaten to death by his neighbour following a parking-related brawl on Wednesday. Footage of the incident showing Dr Abhishek Swarnkar pinned to the ground before being punched and kicked in the chest has gone viral.
The incident happened in Mohali's Sector 67 on Wednesday night. Dr Swarnkar, the 40-year-old researcher, lived with his parents. The video shows some local people, including the accused Monty, standing near a two-wheeler. Swarnkar is seen walking to the two-wheeler and tries to remove it. However, the duo enters into an altercation following which Monty pushes Swarnkar to the ground. He proceeds to stamp him on his chest and stomach before others intervene and pull Monty away.
Though the people, including Monty, rushes him to the nearby hospital in an SUV, he is declared dead on arrival.
Swarnkar, who had earlier worked in Switzerland, had recently returned to India to join IISET as a project scientist. His works have been featured in multiple international journals. Swarnkar also reportedly underwent a kidney transplant and the organ was donated by his sister. He was also reportedly on dialysis.
Police said a case has been registered on the complaint of the deceased's father. He is survived by his elderly parents and two sisters. "The post-mortem will be conducted on Thursday," Phase 11 SHO Gagandeep Singh told reporters.
