Spring Break
Indian students report racially charged attacks
UNMPD, APD to investigate claims of on-campus violence
Bryan Gibel
Issue date: 9/11/07 Section: News
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by Bryan Gibel
Daily Lobo
More than 20 male Indian students were physically assaulted by a man on and around campus in the last four months, the president of the India Students Association said.
Bhavana Upadhyaya said the attacks follow a similar pattern: Indian men are approached in broad daylight by a man who kicks them to the ground. He then says "Namaste" - a traditional Indian greeting - and flees the scene, Upadhyaya said.
"Our Indian community does not feel safe," she said. "We feel attacked very specifically. A lot of our students have been beaten up, and there is a deep sense of insecurity."
The attacks happened near the campus entrance at Central Avenue and Cornell Drive, Upadhyaya said.
Five Indian students met with the UNM Police Department and an Albuquerque Police officer Monday.
They told police the attacks happened in front of the Bookstore, in the Frontier Restaurant and at the intersection between the two locations.
The students said the attacks seem to have been done by the same man.
Detective Robert Rush of UNM Police said it's too early to say for sure.
The police would not release the man's description.
Sgt. John Guilmette of the Albuquerque Police Department said the most important thing the students can do is report any attacks immediately.
Guilmette said the department is stretched thin on resources, but can notify bicycle police about the incidents and send plain-clothes officers to
the area.
Police can't arrest anyone because the crimes are misdemeanors that weren't committed in the presence of an officer, he said.
The attacks probably aren't hate crimes, Guilmette said.
He said the man is most likely mentally disturbed and not specifically targeting Indians.
"I can guarantee you, you're not the only people getting hit by this guy," he said. "If he's that angry, I guarantee he's hitting other people, too."
The students realized the attacks were related when several students sent e-mails to the India Student Association on Thursday, Upadhyaya said.
Daily Lobo
More than 20 male Indian students were physically assaulted by a man on and around campus in the last four months, the president of the India Students Association said.
Bhavana Upadhyaya said the attacks follow a similar pattern: Indian men are approached in broad daylight by a man who kicks them to the ground. He then says "Namaste" - a traditional Indian greeting - and flees the scene, Upadhyaya said.
"Our Indian community does not feel safe," she said. "We feel attacked very specifically. A lot of our students have been beaten up, and there is a deep sense of insecurity."
The attacks happened near the campus entrance at Central Avenue and Cornell Drive, Upadhyaya said.
Five Indian students met with the UNM Police Department and an Albuquerque Police officer Monday.
They told police the attacks happened in front of the Bookstore, in the Frontier Restaurant and at the intersection between the two locations.
The students said the attacks seem to have been done by the same man.
Detective Robert Rush of UNM Police said it's too early to say for sure.
The police would not release the man's description.
Sgt. John Guilmette of the Albuquerque Police Department said the most important thing the students can do is report any attacks immediately.
Guilmette said the department is stretched thin on resources, but can notify bicycle police about the incidents and send plain-clothes officers to
the area.
Police can't arrest anyone because the crimes are misdemeanors that weren't committed in the presence of an officer, he said.
The attacks probably aren't hate crimes, Guilmette said.
He said the man is most likely mentally disturbed and not specifically targeting Indians.
"I can guarantee you, you're not the only people getting hit by this guy," he said. "If he's that angry, I guarantee he's hitting other people, too."
The students realized the attacks were related when several students sent e-mails to the India Student Association on Thursday, Upadhyaya said.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Pavel
posted 9/11/07 @ 3:34 PM MST
So kicking someone to the ground and saying "hi" is just a misdemeanor? Awesome, I'm going to greet people like that all the time from now on.
And if he's specifically using an Indian greeting, how can you say he's not targeting specifically Indians? How many traditional greetings in how many languages can one retarded guy know?
justin
posted 9/12/07 @ 8:41 AM MST
i am outraged that the police ignore this!
Sara Marie
posted 9/13/07 @ 6:04 PM MST
What the "f"? The most disconcerting, dare I say terrifying, aspect of this story is that this is the first I've heard of it. 20 assaults since July?! I often feel a false sense of security on campus, and now even that is waning. (Continued…)
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