Ex-cricketer bashed up on e-way

NEW DELHI: Former cricketer Atul Wassan became the latest victim of road rage while he was driving home to Gurgaon on Wednesday. The incident occurred on the Gurgaon-Delhi Expressway toll plaza when the cricketer had stopped to pay toll. What triggered the outrage was the fact that Wassan, driving in his BMW, had overtaken two Haryana government vehicles, allegedly from the wrong side. At least two men forced Wassan out of his car and then beat him black and blue. The former player, now a renowned television commentator, was admitted in the Safdarjung Hospital where cops took his MLC report. However, it isunclear yet if the Delhi cops or Haryana Police will handle the case. Sourcessaid the accused were all OSDs of a top Haryana minister and this could make thematter somewhat complicated. However, cops of both the states haveneither confirmed nor denied the issue. “We have accepted thecricketer’s complaint at the Vasant Kunj south police station. But theincident occurred on Haryana land, so the case has been transferred to theHaryana Police,” said a top south district police officer. Wassan told TOIthat he had returned from overseas and met some close friends for dinner inDelhi. He was returning home around 1.30am when he came across anAmbassador with a blue beacon, followed by a Gypsy. “The stretch from ShivMurthi was full of trucks waiting to cross the toll plaza. “Iovertook the two cars while trying to overtake the trucks; but by the time Ireached the toll gate, they caught up with me. Five men got out of the Gypsy andsurrounded me. I had not locked my car, so they forced me out and startedhitting me. There were over 50 policemen there, but no one dared to interfere;even drivers of other vehicles chose to ignore,” said Wassan, adding healmost lost consciousness. “I somehow pulled myself up andreached home, which was only a five-minute drive from the spot.“My wife called a doctor and he applied ice to lessen my pain.I was prescribed pain killers. I informed the police on Thursday after which myMLC was done,” said Wassan. Sources say the accused are OSDsof a top Haryana minister. Police, however, are tightlipped on the issue. Noclarity on whether Delhi or Haryana police will investigate the case of assaulton Wassan