A tale of courage turning to tragedy, 26-year-old national-level para-athlete and bodybuilder Rohit Dhankhar was fatally beaten after intervening in a harassment incident at a wedding in Bhiwani district, Haryana. During a baraat procession, a group of inebriated men began making vulgar remarks and harassing women guests. Dhankhar, a resident of Rohtak with a physical disability in his right leg, fearlessly confronted the harassers, urging them to respect the women and diffusing the initial tension with the help of other attendees. Known for his gold medals in para-weightlifting and running a local gym, Dhankhar embodied resilience and principle.
The nightmare escalated as Dhankhar and his friend Jatin were driving back to Rohtak and stopped at a railway crossing. Nearly 20 men, including the primary harasser, identified as Rahul, ambushed their vehicle with sticks and rods, dragging Dhankhar out for a merciless assault. Jatin escaped to seek help, but Dhankhar was left critically injured and rushed first to a Bhiwani hospital before being airlifted to PGIMS in Rohtak. Despite intensive care, he succumbed to severe blunt force trauma the next morning on November 30. Eyewitnesses described the attack as ferocious, underscoring the mob’s vengeful rage over his earlier stand. Bhiwani police have filed charges of murder and attempted murder.
