Are Indian Students at Risk in the US? Fourth Indian student brutally attacked within a month

Amidst escalating concerns regarding the safety of Indian Students residing in the US, yet another distressing incident has occurred. A student, hailing from India 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 Indian city of Hyderabad. He is reportedly a student at Indiana Wesleyan University. 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.

What happened?

The incident occered 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 cellphone 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," Ali said in the video.

After the attack, Ali's family urged the Indian government to intervene in the matter. His wife Syeda Ruquiya Fatima Razvi wrote a letter to India'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.

Indian 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 Indian-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 Indian lives

These incidents raise concerns about the safety and well-being of Indian students in the US. This spike in fatalities among Indian 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 Indian students have been reported, highlighting the vulnerabilities faced by this particular demographic.

The US has long been a favored destination for Indian students seeking higher education opportunities. With its world-renowned universities, diverse academic programs, and promising career prospects, it's no surprise that thousands of Indian students admit to American campuses each year. However, behind the glossy facade lies a grim reality that has come to light in recent times.

The Indian American population was estimated to be over 4.4 million, according to the US Census Bureau.This makes them the largest group of South Asian Americans, the largest Asian-alone group, and the second-largest Asian American group after Chinese Americans. They represent approximately 1.35% of the total US population.

Both major political parties actively court their votes, recognizing their potential to influence election outcomes.Increased political engagement and mobilization by Indian American organizations could amplify their impact on the 2024 elections.

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.