He survived a terror attack, sustained five bullet injuries, lost his father young, and now leads LG Electronics India's sales division

Long before he became a top director at LG Electronics India, Sanjay Chitkara survived one of the deadliest episodes of militancy in Punjab. In 1989, he was shot five times when Khalistani terrorists attacked Thapar Engineering College in Patiala, killing 19 non-Sikh students. Decades later, Chitkara still carries one bullet in his body.

What happened?

On the night of November 10, 1989, a team of students from NIT Kurukshetra travelled to Patiala to participate in a college festival. After the day's events, they retired to the common rooms of the hostel. The room next to theirs was occupied by students from Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, according to National Institute of Technology Kurukshetra Alumni Association.

The attack claimed the lives of nine NIT Kurukshetra students. Only three survived. Among them was Sanjay Chitkara, a student of the 1986–1990 batch and secretary of the institute's Fine Arts Club.


Chitkara had already faced personal tragedy at a young age, losing his father when he was 10 years old. During the attack, he sustained multiple bullet injuries and was admitted to Rajendra Hospital in Patiala, where he underwent emergency treatment and blood transfusions after suffering severe blood loss.

According to accounts of his recovery, the blood transfusion led to a hepatitis infection, which gradually damaged his liver. At the time, treatment options were limited. When new hepatitis medication developed by Gilead Sciences entered clinical trials in the mid-1990s, Chitkara volunteered to participate. The treatment reportedly cured the infection but was followed by complications, including brain tuberculosis.

Despite years of health challenges, Chitkara built a successful corporate career. He went on to lead marketing and later sales at LG Electronics India, where he played a key role in strengthening the company's brand. During his career, he received several industry recognitions, including the Best Marketing Professional award from the International Advertising Association and the Top Marketing Mind in India award by WCRC in 2014. He also served as Joint Secretary of the Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA) in 2019. He currently serves as Director at LG Electronics India.