A 33-year-old major in the Indian army has a city techie to thank for saving his life. The major was pulled out of his vehicle and was brutally assaulted by an auto driver and four others near the SCT Institute of Technology on Kaggadasapura main road at around 5 pm on Friday.

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The major, who was stuck in slow-moving traffic in his SUV near the college, found himself staring at an auto driver berating him for being a North Indian (his vehicle bore Haryana registration plates) who did not how to drive on city roads. The victim warned him to desist else he would report the matter to the police and began taking pictures of the driver, the latter flew into a rage and - along with four other men - started damaging the vehicle, shattering its windshield.

"I was behind the victim's car and witnessed the whole incident. The major was innocent and the auto driver picked a fight for no reason. The victim did not even come out of the car and was unable to understand the language in which the driver was speaking. Four other passersby, who were in no way connected to the incident, ganged up with the driver and started damaging the vehicle. The victim was then pulled out of the car and badly beaten. There were nearly 40 onlookers and nobody came to the victim's rescue, despite his pleas for help. I started pushing the assailants, asking them not to beat him as he would die. With great difficulty, I rescued the victim and the accused ran away," said Murali Kartik, a techie who works at Manyata Tech Park.

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Kartik then rushed the victim to Sri Lakshmi Hospital in Kaggadasapura where he was administered treatment.

"I could see the victim being beaten with spanners. He was bleeding profusely and did not know why he was being assaulted. The spot where the incident occurred sees regular traffic jams. After treatment we went to the Bayappanaalli police station around 7.30 pm and filed a complaint. The pictures, which the victim managed to click of the driver and others who beat him, were handed over to the police for further investigation. I wish those 40 onlookers, instead watching the victim being beaten, could have just warned the accused and sent them away," Kartik added.

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Once at the hospital, the major then called his friends to help him. "We really need to thank the civilian who helped our friend who has been posted in Bengaluru for the last two years. The victim has been advised complete bed-rest and is not in a position to speak. The condition of the victim would have been even more critical had the civilian not displayed courage to counter the five weapon-wielding gang-members," the victim's friend, a Wing Commander in the Indian Air Force, told BM.

The case is under investigation and the search for the accused is on. A case of voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means under section 324 of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against the accused, the Bayappanahalli police said.