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An Indian student from Hyderabad, who is studying information technology in the US, was assaulted and robbed by four armed men near his home in Chicago. A video of the victim, Syed Mazahir Ali, bleeding and asking for help, has been widely shared on social media. The Indian Consulate in Chicago has assured him and his wife in India of all possible assistance and contacted the local authorities who are investigating the case.
Indian student in Chicago suffers violent robbery, wife seeks help from Indian government
The attack took place on February 4, when Ali was walking home with a food packet in his hand. He slipped near his house and was attacked by four men who chased him, beat him with a gun, and stole his phone and wallet. Ali suffered severe injuries to his face, head, eye, ribs, and back. He was taken to a local hospital and later discharged.
Ali’s wife, Syeda Ruquliya Fatima Rizvi, who lives in Hyderabad with their three minor children, was informed of the incident by Ali’s friend. She wrote a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, requesting him to help her husband with medical aid and to allow her to travel to the US with their children. She said she was shocked to see him bleeding and worried about his safety and security in the US.
Ali, who is pursuing his master’s degree from the Indiana Wesleyan University, said he was traumatized by the incident and could not forget it. He said America was his dream country and he came here to fulfil his dreams, but the attack shattered his confidence. He said he sometimes felt like quitting his studies and returning to his home country, as he did not feel secure here.
Rising cases of Indian students’ deaths in US spark alarm and anguish
Several Indian students have lost their lives in the US in recent months, triggering fear and grief among their families and friends in India. The latest case is that of Syed Mazahir Ali, a Hyderabad native who was brutally assaulted and robbed by four men in Chicago. A video of his bloodied face and desperate plea for help has gone viral on social media. His wife has appealed to the Indian government for help and medical assistance.
Ali, who is studying information technology at Indiana Wesleyan University, was attacked on February 4 when he was returning home with a food packet. He was chased, beaten, and threatened with a gun by the robbers, who took his phone and wallet. He suffered multiple injuries and was hospitalized. The Indian Consulate in Chicago has assured him of all possible support and contacted the local authorities who are investigating the case.
Ali’s ordeal is not an isolated one. Several other Indian students have met with tragic ends in the US in the past few months. Some of the cases are:
- Shreyas Reddy Beniger, a 19-year-old business student at the University of Cincinnati, was found dead in Ohio last week. The Consulate General of India said there was no evidence of foul play.
- Neel Acharya, a 21-year-old student of Purdue University, was found dead near the campus in Indiana. He had gone missing on January 28 and his body was recovered days later.
- Vivek Saini, a 25-year-old student of Georgia State University, was killed by a homeless drug addict who hit him with a hammer in Lithonia city, Georgia. A video of the horrific attack was circulated on social media, but the date of the incident is unclear.
- Akul B Dhawan, an 18-year-old student of the University of Illinois, was found dead with signs of hypothermia on the back porch of a building near the university. He had gone missing in the early hours of January 20 and was later declared dead.
The US is the most preferred destination for international students, especially from India. According to the latest data, the US hosted 10,57,188 foreign students in the 2022-2023 academic year, of which 2,68,923 were Indians, making them the second-largest group after China.
However, the increasing incidents of Indian students’ deaths in the US have raised alarm and anguish in India, and also in the Parliament. On February 2, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that 403 Indian students had died abroad since 2018 due to various reasons, including natural causes, accidents, and medical conditions. Of these, 36 were from the US. He also said that the government was committed to the welfare of Indian students abroad and maintained regular contact with them through the Indian missions and officials.
