Alabama governor apologises to India for 'excessive force' that injured citizen

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/feb/18/alabama-governor-apologises-india-excessive-force

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Alabama governor Robert Bentley has apologized to the Indian government after one of its citizens was thrown to the ground and partially paralyzed by police in the state.

Bentley apologized for the Madison police department’s “use of excessive force” in a letter directed to the Indian general consul Ajit Kumar that was made public by the governor’s office on Tuesday (pdf).

Video of the incident shows officer Eric Parker throwing Sureshbhai Patel to the ground after responding to a call from a man who said he was nervous about an unknown person walking around his neighborhood.

Related: 'It was devastating': A family struggles to recover from brutal Alabama beating

Patel was walking through his son’s neighborhood during his second visit to the US. He traveled there to take care of his grandchild, according to his son Chirag, who said his father had to undergo spinal surgery after the incident.

“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,” Bentley wrote. “I sincerely hope that Mr Patel continues to improve and that he will regain full use of his legs.”

Bentley said state law enforcement and the FBI are investigating the incident. “I wish to assure you and the government of India that we will see that justice is done arising from the use of excessive force under color of state law upon a citizen of India,” Bentley wrote.

He directed the apology to India’s government, Patel and “the citizens of India who reside and work in our state”.

India’s external affairs ministry spokesman, Syed Akbaruddin, said last week that the government is “extremely worried” about the incident and was in contact with government representatives in Alabama and Washington DC.

Madison police department chief Larry Muncey Parker recommended that Parker be fired and on Tuesday the officer pleaded not guilty to an assault charge. A trial is scheduled for 29 April.

Family attorney Hank Sherrod told the Guardian that he does not think the incident would have happened in the same way if Patel was white, “But that doesn’t mean [the incident was] motivated by any particular racial hatred,” Sherrod said.

Patel is undergoing physical therapy and more than $190,000 has been raised online to help cover his medical expenses.