(Pic: www.indiawest.com)

California: Indians and other South Asians in California are appealing for help in the case of a man of Indian origin who was attacked nearly two months ago in an apparent hate crime.  

Atul Lall, who is 32, was attacked while leaving a parking centre where he bought groceries for his family's Thanksgiving dinner.

The three men who beat him "repeatedly punched him, broke his jaw with a tequila bottle, doused him with alcohol, spit on him, and called him a 'terrorist,'" according to a statement from the South Asian Bar Association of Northern California.

The organization says that after his attackers walked away, Mr Lall dialed 911 for emergency assistance and drove himself to the hospital, where he had surgery to repair his jaw. The local police allegedly took four hours to show up at the hospital. Police officials say the case is being investigated as a hate crime, but no arrests have been made so far.

Mr Lall's family is originally from Kolkata.  He is an industrial engineer.

Local organizations supporting him want anyone with information about the incident to call the San Jose Police Department's assault unit at 408-277-4161.

Tags: hate crime, Indian attacked in US, Indian man attacked, Indian man's jaw broken with tequila bottle