In a shocking incident from Delhi, a 36-year-old businessman succumbed to injuries after he was allegedly punched, kicked and beaten on the head with a helmet by food delivery agents following an argument.
According to media reports, Shivam Gupta had Connaught Place with a friend on January 2 to attend a party.
When he came out of the restaurant, he asked a delivery agent for some water near E Block, close to Rajiv Chowk Metro Station, reports news agency PTI. An altercation ensued and the agent hit him with a helmet and two of his associates, also working as delivery agents, punched and kicked Gupta.
The police received a call about an injured man lying unconscious on the road around 1.30 am on January 3. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors found multiple hematomas and declared him unfit to give a statement.
According to the deceased man's father, the injuries were severe and targeted.
"When we reached the hospital, his condition was alarming. He was vomiting blood and not responding. We requested the doctors to refer him to another hospital for better treatment," PTI quoted the father as saying.
Gupta was shifted to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital on January 4 and underwent surgery on January 5.
"The doctors clearly told us that the injuries were life-threatening and an immediate operation was necessary. After the procedure, we were informed that the next 36 to 72 hours would be crucial for recovery. For a while, he showed signs of improvement. He was responding to the doctors when they called out to him. We had hope," the father said. "But, he left us on January 19."
"I, along with the police, checked many CCTV footage of the incident. I was told by the police that my son asked for water from the delivery agents when a verbal spat ensued with one of the agents. He, in a fit of rage, repeatedly stuck a helmet on my son's head. He fell unconscious on the ground and his friend, who went with him, was standing close to him. I have no idea why he did not inform us about the entire matter," he said.
Two people have been apprehended in connection with the incident.
