Fourth Bharatiya student brutally attacked within a month in US
Bharatiya Students at Risk in the US?
Amidst escalating concerns regarding the safety of Bharatiya Students residing in the US, yet another distressing incident has occurred. A student, hailing from Bharat and pursuing his master’s degree at Indiana Wesleyan University in Chicago, was assaulted by four armed robbers near his residence in the city of Chicago.
The victim has been identified as Syed Mazahir Ali, a native of Hyderabad. The student received several injuries in the attack. He was seen profusely bleeding after allegedly being beaten up by the robbers. The robbers snatched his phone and wallet before fleeing.
The incident occurred on Feb 04 when Ali was returning to his West Ridge apartment and he saw a few suspicious men following him. Following the suspicion, he started running. However, they attacked him. In a viral CCTV Footage, Ali can be seen saying that he was walking when four people attacked him and that he was kicked and punched by those men. The robbers took his cell phone and wallet before fleeing the scene.
In a viral video, Ali can be heard saying that four people attacked him while he was going home. “I was carrying food back home when four people cornered me, kicked and punched me, and ran away with my phone. Please help me”.
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After the attack, Ali’s family urged the Bharatiya government to intervene in the matter. His wife Syeda Ruquiya Fatima Razvi wrote a letter to Bharat’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, seeking best possible treatment for her husband. “If possible, kindly make necessary arrangements so that I can travel to USA along with my three minor children to be with my husband,” she requested.
Consulate in Chicago said they are in touch with Ali and his family, and assured all possible assistance. The Consulate has also contacted the local authorities who are investigating the case.
Attacks on Indian-origin students in US
An Bharatiya-American student, who was completing his doctorate in mechanical engineering from Purdue University, was found dead on Monday evening (Feb 5), reported the Warren County Coroner’s office. The 23-year-old student, identified as Sameer Kamath, had US citizenship and had completed his master’s degree in mechanical engineering in August 2023 from Purdue University, confirmed the coroner’s office. Kamath’s dead body was found at the Crow’s Grove Nature Preserve around 5 pm (local time) on Monday (Feb 5). Crow’s Grove Nature Preserve is part of the Niches Land Trust which is located at 3300 North Warren County Road 50 West, in Williamsport.
This year, four Indian-origin students were found dead in the United States. Last week, Shreyas Reddy Beniger, a 19-year-old native of Hyderabad, was found dead in the US. He was a student at the Linder School of Business in Ohio.
Last month, a missing Indian-origin student, Neel Acharya, was found dead near the Purdue University Airport in the US. Acharya was pursuing a double major at the prestigious Purdue University in the US state of Indiana. On January 16, Vivek Saini, a 25-year-old Indian student who recently earned an MBA degree in the US, was hammered to death by a homeless drug addict in Georgia’s Lithonia. Saini from Haryana had been helping the accused for the past couple of days.
Another Indian student, Akul Dhawan, was found dead outside the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in January. The parents of the 18-year-old filed a complaint, alleging that the university’s police department did not take any action after their son was reported missing.
Political need to focus on Bharatiya (Indian) lives
These incidents raise concerns about the safety and well-being of Bharatiya students in the US. This spike in fatalities among Bharatiya students studying abroad has raised alarm bells and prompted a critical examination of safety measures, mental health support, and overall well-being within the educational ecosystem. Incidents of violence, robberies, and even hate crimes targeting Bharatiya students have been reported, highlighting the vulnerabilities faced by this particular demographic.
The US has long been a favored destination for Bharatiya students seeking higher education opportunities. With its world-renowned universities, diverse academic programs, and promising career prospects, it’s no surprise that thousands of students admit to American campuses each year. However, behind the glossy facade lies a grim reality that has come to light in recent times.
Against the backdrop of a growing Indian population in the U.S. and the upcoming presidential election 2024, these tragic incidents underscore the need for heightened awareness and proactive measures to ensure the well-being of Indian students living in the US. The growing Indian American population is likely to play a prominent role in the political discourse and policymaking of US.
