IISER scientist dies after fight over parking dispute, accused absconding

A 39-year-old scientist from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali, Dr. Abhishek Swarnkar, died after being pushed to the ground and repeatedly punched by his neighbour, Monty, during a parking dispute in Sector 67, Mohali, on Tuesday night. Swarnkar, who had recently undergone a kidney transplant and was on dialysis, collapsed after the attack and was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

According to CCTV footage, the incident occurred around 8:30 PM, when Swarnkar confronted Monty, an IT professional, over parking space near his rented house. The footage reportedly shows Monty shoving Swarnkar to the ground and repeatedly punching him in the stomach and chest. Witnesses, including a local tenant named Roma, said they saw the attack unfold and that both families intervened to separate them, but Swarnkar had already collapsed. Monty then rushed him to a private hospital, but his condition had already worsened.

Police officials stated that Monty, while transporting Swarnkar to the hospital, crashed into another vehicle on the way. Doctors at the hospital declared Swarnkar dead on arrival. The victim’s family has filed a police complaint, and officers have registered a case under culpable homicide not amounting to murder. An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday, and police are analyzing the CCTV footage as part of the investigation. The accused is currently absconding, and search operations are underway to locate him.

Swarnkar, originally from West Bengal, had previously worked in Switzerland and the US before returning to India due to health issues. He lived with his elderly parents in a rented house in Mohali. He had gained recognition in the scientific community, with his research published in prestigious international journals. He was also selected by India’s Department of Science and Technology in 2017 to meet Nobel Laureates. His sister had recently donated a kidney for his transplant, and he was undergoing dialysis treatment at the time of the incident.

Authorities have urged residents to report any information regarding the accused’s whereabouts. There has been a rise in cases over disputes over parking spaces, with similar violent altercations reported in Delhi and other major cities. Investigations are ongoing, and further updates will follow after the postmortem examination.