New Delhi: The wife of an Indian student, who was brutally attacked in Chicago, has called for greater protection of Indians pursuing higher education abroad, especially after the assault on her husband follows the death of five Indian-origin students over the course of a month.
Hyderabad’s Syed Mazahir Ali, 35, who is pursuing a Masters in Information and Technology (IT) from Indiana Wesleyan University, was robbed by four unidentified assailants almost at his doorstep Tuesday night. He had gone out to buy food.
A video of the incident went viral on social media, after which the Indian consulate in Chicago issued a statement saying it was in touch with the student and would extend all possible assistance. Officials said they were also in touch with local authorities investigating the case.
Consulate is in touch with Syed Mazahir Ali and his wife in India Syeda Ruquiya Fatima Razvi and assured all possible assistance. Consulate has also contacted the local authorities who are investigating the case. @IndianEmbassyUS @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia @meaMADAD
— India in Chicago (@IndiainChicago) February 6, 2024
Ali’s wife Syeda Ruquiya Fatima Razvi told ThePrint that her husband went to the US six months ago for higher studies. “He was aware of gun crimes in the US but this was unexpected. The men held him at gunpoint. Indian students need better protection, medical assistance and legal remedies when abroad because such attacks are becoming more common,” she said.
Razvi, 27, who is based in Hyderabad, also wrote to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar Tuesday to convey concerns about the safety and security of her spouse. “I request you to kindly help him in getting the best medical treatment,” she wrote.
The case was also highlighted on social media by Amjed Ullah Khan, spokesperson for Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) and a former corporator.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told ThePrint that no foul play was suspected in the deaths of two of the students, who were US nationals. He added that the medical report was awaited in these cases.
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A third student, Vivek Saini, Jaiswal said, was an Indian national and his attacker has been arrested. Saini was allegedly attacked and killed by a homeless man in Georgia on 16 January.
The Indian mission in Atlanta termed it a “terrifying, brutal, and heinous incident”, adding that US authorities had arrested the accused and were investigating the case.
We are deeply anguished by the terrifying, brutal, & heinous incident that led to the death of 🇮🇳 National/student Mr Vivek Saini & condemns attack in the strongest terms. It is understood that the US authorities have arrested the accused & are investigating the case. 1/2
— India in Atlanta (@CGI_Atlanta) January 29, 2024
Indian-origin students dead
Last week, Indian-American student Shreyas Reddy Benigeri was found dead in Cincinnati, Ohio. According to the Indian consulate in New York, no foul play was suspected. The student was pursuing a graduate degree in Business Statistics from Lindner School of Business, University of Cincinnati.
Days prior to the incident, another Indian-American student, Neel Acharya, was found dead in Purdue University in Indiana. The university’s student newspaper, The Purdue Exponent, expressed sadness at the death, noting that Acharya was a “driven individual and (an) academically talented” student.
Acharya was studying a double major at the John Martinson Honors College. There was no trauma on his body and the circumstances of his death are under investigation.
Another Indian-American student, 18-year-old Akul B. Dhawan was found dead last month with signs of hypothermia at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
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