8 Feb 2010, 1507 hrs IST

CHANDIGARH, India: Former Haryana DGP SPS Rathore was today stabbed thrice in the face by a youth with a knife that left him bleeding outside a local court hearing his appeal in the Ruchika molestation case.

68-year-old Rathore was stabbed by the youth identified as Utsav Sharma, a resident of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, in the left cheek. A bleeding Rathore covered the wound with a handkerchief before getting into his car.

While the youth, who was pursuing a course in film production in Ahmedabad, used his left hand to stab the former IPS officer, he delivered punches with his right hand on Rathore's right cheek.

He also attempted to attack the former DGP on the arm, but the police personnel present there overpowered him and nailed him down as he tried to run in the midst of a commotion outside the court.

The youth was standing among mediapersons and said to be pretending to take pictures of Rathore. The reporters were waiting to talk to him and others after the court proceedings which were held in-camera.

Rathore was taken to Sector 16 Government General Hospital, police sources said. The youth has been taken to the nearby Sector 17 Police Station.

Rathore was completely taken by surprise by the sudden attack. His lawyer-wife Abha was following him.

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