Arunachal Youth in Coma After Suspected Racial Attack in Bengaluru

A students’ association is set to organise a protest to highlight the discrimination faced by the community.

The Bengaluru police is investigating race as a possible motive in a case where a youth from Arunachal Pradesh was found lying in a semi-conscious and injured state on a road in Kormanagala last week.

Khuadun Khangham, 22, who was rushed to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) hospital in Bengaluru on 7 January, is currently in a coma.

The police registered an FIR on Monday, following a complaint filed by the All Arunachal Students Union Association of Karnataka (AASUAK). The AASUAK has alleged that Khangham was the victim of a racially-motivated attack.

Toko John, president of the AASUAK, told The News Minute that Khangham had sustained grievous injuries.

We strongly believe it to be a case of racial attack. He has sustained grievous injuries. We have also got to know that it was not a road accident. Khuadun’s roommate couldn’t reach him on the phone till around 1 am on Saturday, despite repeated calls. It was the police who later answered Khuadun’s phone. That is how his roommate came to know of the incident.

Toko John, President of AASUAK

John said that the AASUAK plans to organise a protest in the city to highlight the discrimination faced by the community.

We have got in touch with our MLAs in Arunachal and have also met the City Police Commissioner in person with a request to ensure our safety as well as look into the case. We will soon begin an agitation against such attacks. Just because we look different does not mean we are from China or Japan. We too are Indian citizens.

Toko John, President of AASUAK

According to the police, Khangham was found nearly a kilometre away from a pub in Kormanagala, where he is employed. He had come to Bengaluru four months ago and was staying with his friend in Kormanagala.

B Boralingaiah, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru (South East) told The News Minute that a case has been registered under Section 326 of IPC. Further sections will be added after recording the statement of the victim, the officer said.

Since the victim is in coma and not in a position to reveal what happened, we are now in the process of checking for CCTV footage to ascertain what happened. The investigation is on.

B Boralingaiah, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru (South East)

According to an officer of the investigating team, the police have ruled out the possibility of a road accident, as prima facie, it appeared to be a case of assault.