Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama.
The governor of the US state of Alabama has apologised to the Indian government for the treatment of an Indian man left partially paralysed after being thrown to the ground by a policeman.
Mr. Bentley ordered the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to launch a parallel investigation — the Federal Bureau of Investigation has already started its own probe — into the use of “excessive force” against Sureshbhai Patel, 57, on February 6.
The officer involved was charged with the assault but has pleaded not guilty.
Mr Patel, who had recently arrived in the US, has filed a legal case alleging race played a part in the incident.
He was walking outside his son's home in an Alabama suburb when police said they received a call from a neighbour about a suspicious person.
Footage from police cameras showed Mr Patel - who speaks no English - trying to walk away when the officers approached him. They detain him and eventually shove him to the ground.
Sureshbhai Patel left the hospital on Monday after surgery
Mr Patel suffered injuries, including partial paralysis in his leg. His lawyer said he was now in rehabilitation after leaving hospital on Monday.
“Please accept our sincere apology for this tragic incident to your government, Patel, and the citizens of India who reside and work in our state,” Mr. Bentley said in a letter written to the to India’s General Consul in Atlanta, Ajit Kumar.
“I deeply regret the unfortunate use of excessive force by the Madison Police Department on Sureshbhai Patel and for the injuries sustained by Mr. Patel,” he said.
“I sincerely hope that Mr. Patel continues to improve and that he will regain full use of his legs,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Patel has been transferred from Huntsville hospital to a rehabilitation centre following improvement in his condition, his attorney Henry F Sherrod said.
An online fund raising campaign has collected USD 187,000 for Mr. Patel’s medical expenses. More than 4,300 people have contributed to it.
The governor said the state would investigate the incident along with the FBI. Police officials in Madison have apologised to Mr Patel and his family. - PTI
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