Haryana Para-Athlete Loses Life After Confronting Wedding Harassers
A 26-year-old national-level bodybuilder and para-athlete from Rohtak district, Rohit Dhankhar, tragically succumbed to his injuries on Saturday after being brutally attacked for confronting a group of men who were allegedly harassing women at a wedding in Bhiwani.
Promising Athlete with Golden Legacy
Rohit Dhankhar, a resident of Humayunpur village, was not just an ordinary athlete. Despite suffering from a disability in his right leg, he had established himself as a professional bodybuilder who trained members at Gymkhana Club in Rohtak. His athletic achievements were remarkable - in 2018, he won a gold medal at the National Powerlifting Championship in Delhi, conducted by the Para Olympic Committee of India.
Family members revealed that Rohit was actually an international medallist, having won two gold medals in 2018. His accomplishments had earned him recognition from the highest levels of government, with then-CM Manohar Lal Khattar honouring him at the Independence Day ceremony that same year.
The Fateful Wedding Night
The tragedy unfolded on Friday when Rohit had travelled to Bhiwani with his friend, Jatin, to offer 'shagun' at the wedding of Jatin's relative. According to family accounts, the situation turned violent when a baraat from Tigadana village arrived at the venue late at night.
Some men from this group allegedly began misbehaving with women at the function. Rohit intervened and warned them, leading to a brief altercation. Although the harassers initially walked away, the situation would escalate dramatically later that night.
Brutal Ambush at Railway Crossing
After the wedding ceremony concluded, when Rohit and Jatin left in their vehicle to return home, their car had to stop at a railway crossing as the gate was closed. This is when the nightmare began.
Family members alleged that nearly 20 attackers, armed with sticks, rods and other weapons, surrounded the duo and launched a vicious assault. Jatin managed to escape the ambush, but Rohit was caught and beaten severely.
"There wasn't a single part of his body without injury marks," a devastated family member recounted, highlighting the brutality of the attack.
After the attackers fled the scene, Jatin returned with help and rushed Rohit to a local hospital. Given his critical condition, he was immediately referred to PGIMS in Rohtak. Despite night-long efforts by doctors to save him, Rohit succumbed to his injuries on Saturday.
Family Demands Justice
Bhiwani Police, upon being informed, went to PGIMS where a post-mortem was conducted based on the family's complaint. Investigation into the matter is underway.
Rohit's brother-in-law, Ravi Khassa, and uncle, Satish Dhanakhar, have demanded the harshest punishment for the assailants. "This was a planned murder. He stood up for the dignity of women and paid with his life," one of them stated, capturing the family's anguish and demand for justice.
The tragic incident has left the local community and sports fraternity in shock, raising serious questions about safety and the price paid by those who dare to stand up against harassment.
