Telangana student robbed, attacked in Chicago; wife asks Union external affairs minister for emergency visa

Hyderabad-resident Syed Mazahir Ali was violently attacked and robbed by three assailants. The video of the aftermath has gone viral.

Published Feb 06, 2024 | 11:16 PMUpdated Feb 07, 2024 | 4:12 PM

Telangana student robbed, attacked in Chicago; wife asks Union external affairs minister for emergency visa

The wife of a Hyderabad man has written to Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar asking for an emergency visa to visit him in the US after a viral video showed him bloodied in a violent attack.

Syed Mazahir Ali, a resident of Telangana, fell victim to the violent attack and robbery by three assailants on Campbell Ave in Chicago on Tuesday, 6 February. The video capturing the aftermath went viral, drawing widespread attention.

Meanwhile, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Wednesday, 7 February, assured support to the family of Ali.

In the video, Ali — originally a resident of Lunger House in the Mehdipatnam area of Hyderabad — was visibly injured and bleeding as he recounted the harrowing ordeal.

He said, “I was in the process of getting food when I noticed some suspicious individuals. I began walking faster and then started to run, but they caught up to me.”

He said they robbed him of his phone at gunpoint. In a plea for assistance, Ali implores, “Please help me, brother, please.”

Also Read: Parents of Hyderabad engineer stranded in the US seek MEA help

Wife seeks help

His wife Syeda Ruquiya Fatima Razvi penned a letter addressed to the Union external affairs minister detailing the incident.

The woman, who currently stays at Lunger House, said her husband was pursuing a postgraduate degree in information technology at Indiana Wesley University.

Syeda said her husband was viciously attacked and robbed near his apartment on Campbell Ave in Chicago and has since been admitted to a hospital.

She was informed of his condition by her husband’s friend, and she requested the minister to provide him with medical treatment.

In her plea to the ministry, she also requested assistance in facilitating her travel to the United States to provide support and aid to her injured husband.

The Telangana Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said in a post on X that the state government would set up a help desk to support students from the state residing in foreign nations.

“Very disconcerted to learn of the attack on Syed Mazhar Ali, a student from #Hyderabad, by four robbers in #Chicago. This follows a fatal attack on B. Shreyas Reddy, who was killed in Ohio. I request Hon’ble External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar ji to kindly convey our concerns over safety of our students and citizens living there. My govt will set up a dedicated help desk for all youth living in USA, and other countries, especially students, to ensure all their needs are met. It is my assurance to all citizens of #Telangana…,” the CMO posted on X quoting the chief minister.

Also Read: 2 AP, Telangana students found dead under suspicious circumstances in US

‘He truly needs his family’

Speaking with South First, Syeda shared her concerns about her husband’s situation.

She said, “My husband has over 10 years of experience in the IT industry as a recruiter. He decided to pursue postgraduation in information technology at Indiana Wesley University in the US with an aim to secure a better position in a global company.”

She also said, “We have three young children, aged four years, 2.5 years, and eight months.”

Syeda continued: “My husband is currently experiencing mental distress and is unable to communicate effectively. I must travel to the US to support him during this difficult time.”

She emphasised the urgency of the situation, noting, “While his friend is currently by his side, he truly needs the presence of his family.”

She added: “He has sustained injuries to his forehead, back, ribs, and knees. Therefore, I urgently require an emergency visa to travel to him.”

Follow us