Shopkeeper of Indian-origin beaten to death in London by teenagers
A 49-year-old shopkeeper of Indian-origin was punched fatally outside his London store on Saturday night by teenagers for refusing to sell them cigarette paper. He died of his injuries in a hospital on Monday afternoon. London police suspects involvement of three teens in the murder of Vijay Patel. On Wednesday, a 16-year-old boy was charged in court for murdering Patel. Read on for more.
Who was Vijay Patel?
Patel worked at a convenience store in north London's Mill Hill area. He lived nearby in Colindale area with his wife Vibha. He had moved from India to the metropolis in 2006, reported The Telegraph. He had two sons. One lives in India. The other is a student of computer engineering in Australia. Vibha was in India visiting relatives when Patel was attacked.
What led to his death?
On Saturday, a group of teens tried to make several purchases from his store, among them alcohol and cigarette paper. One of Patel's colleagues asked them for their identity proofs since the legal age to buy tobacco, alcohol in the UK is 18 years. Failing to provide it, they got aggressive. Patel intervened and was punched fatally. He fell on the ground head first.
Patel's family have set up an online fundraising page
London police have described the attack as an "unprovoked spontaneous incident sparked entirely by refusal to let the suspects buy what they wanted". Patel's family have released his deathbed photograph, appealing for the arrest of other suspects. They have also set up an online fundraising page and have raised over £15,000 through it so far. The manhunt for other two suspects is on.
