Indian student in Chicago brutally attacked, family appeals for government intervention

In a harrowing incident that has drawn international attention, an Indian student, Syed Mazahir Ali, became the victim of a brutal attack in Chicago, United States. The distressing event was captured in a video that showed Ali bleeding profusely from his nose and mouth, making a desperate plea for help. This alarming situation has sparked concern among his family in Hyderabad, India, prompting an urgent appeal to the Indian government to facilitate a visit by his wife to the United States to ensure his well-being and recovery.

Syed Mazahir Ali, a dedicated master’s degree student at Indiana Wesleyan University, faced a violent assault by robbers near his residence in Chicago. The chilling footage of the aftermath, showcasing Ali’s critical condition, underscores the severity of the attack. His wife, Syeda Ruquliya Fatima Rizvi, has reached out to India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, seeking immediate intervention to secure the best possible medical treatment for her husband. In her heartfelt letter, Rizvi expressed profound concern for her husband’s safety and requested assistance for her and their three minor children to travel to the USA, emphasizing the urgency of being by her husband’s side during this critical time.

The incident involving Ali is part of a disturbing trend of violence against Indian-origin students in the United States. This year alone, the Indian student community has mourned the loss of four of its members under tragic circumstances. Among the victims were Shreyas Reddy Beniger, a 19-year-old student found deceased under non-suspicious circumstances, and Neel Acharya, whose body was discovered on the Purdue University campus following a missing person report filed by his mother. Additionally, Vivek Saini, a 25-year-old from Haryana, was fatally attacked in Georgia, and Akul Dhawan was found dead outside the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

These incidents have cast a spotlight on the safety and security of Indian students abroad, raising critical questions about the measures in place to protect international scholars in the US. As the Indian community seeks answers and action, the focus remains on ensuring the safety of its students, who pursue academic and professional aspirations on foreign soil.

The attack on Syed Mazahir Ali in Chicago is not only a personal tragedy but also a stark reminder of the challenges and dangers that Indian students can face abroad. It underscores the importance of robust support systems and safety protocols for international students in the US. This incident, coupled with the recent deaths of other Indian-origin students, calls for immediate action to enhance the safety measures for foreign students, ensuring that they can pursue their studies without fear.