London:
A 28-year-old Indian student from Hyderabad was attacked in London. Praveen Reddy, an MBA student in London School of Business Management, was admitted to Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel with multiple stab wounds on Friday and is in a critical state reportedly. According to the police, Praveen was stabbed several times.
Police believe Praveen sustained his injuries at an address on Kent Street. Eleven people have been arrested. Four remain in custody while seven have been granted bail.
Praveen's father, Sudhakar Reddy, a businessman in Hyderabad, has appealed to the Indian government for an urgent visa to travel to London. External affairs minister SM Krishna has spoken to Praveen's father and ensured all possible help from the government in getting a visa.
"London Police told us this morning that our son was stabbed and thrown out from the window of the three-storied building," Mr Reddy said.
"Police told us that they have admitted Praveen in a hospital and that his condition is serious," he said.
"I want to visit my son with family members and hence request the government through the media to help us in getting visa at the earliest," he said.
"Praveen spoke to me and his mother yesterday. He was supposed to come down to Hyderabad on February 17 to attend a marriage," Mr Reddy added.
Mr Krishna spoke to the acting High Commissioner Rajesh Prasad, asking him to extend all possible help to the Reddy family, official sources in New Delhi said.
They also said that High Commission officials in the UK were coordinating with the doctors treating Praveen and MEA officials in Delhi will take up the matter with the British High Commission to ensure expeditious issuance of the visa to his parents.
Praveen stays in an apartment in London's New Hampshire area.
This is the fourth attack on Indians in the last two months. The three incidents before this were fatal.
In the earlier incidents, 23-year-old Anuj Bidve was shot dead in Greater Manchester in Salford on December 26. The UK Police also confirmed on January 10, the death of 20-year-old student Gurdeep Hayer in Manchester city centre. This was followed by the murder of Avatar Singh Kolar, 62, and his British wife Carole Kolar, 58, in Birmingham on January 11.
(With inputs from PTI)