New Delhi:
Musa Wali Suleman Patel, Indian resident from Gujarat who was injured in the Christchurch terror attacks in New Zealand, has died while undergoing treatment in a hospital, said his brother Haji Ali Patel. At least 49 worshippers were killed in attacks on the Al Noor Mosque in central Christchurch and the Linwood Mosque in the city's outer suburb, in what appeared to be the worst attack on Muslims in a western country.
“My brother and sister-in-law are not able to contact. They are not informing her anything. My brother is in a critical condition. I urge the Central government, PM Modi, Sushma Swaraj and the Gujarat CM to help them reunite,” Haji Ali Patel had earlier said.
"It is currently 24 hours but hospital administration or New Zealand government is not giving any answer. I have been trying to contact my sister-in-law but there is no response," he had said.
The confirmation of his death came even as Farhaj Ahsan, Indian-origin man injured in the Christchurch terror attacks, has succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at a hospital, said his family residing in Hyderabad said on Saturday. Mohammed Sayeeduddin, the father of Farhaj Ahsan, has earlier said: “My son went to the mosque to offer Friday prayers. My son has not returned yet. About 17 people are still missing. I request government to find about the whereabouts and well-being of my son.”
Besides, Suresh Kumar, a family friend of Ahmed Iqbal, said in a video footage they could see images of Iqbal, who runs a restaurant in New Zealand, at a mosque when the attack took place.
"Since then we (Iqbal's family in Hyderabad) have been trying to reach him. We could not reach him over phone. His wife is in a state of shock. We have sought the state governments help to send one of the family members to New Zealand," Kumar said.
According to Suresh, Ahmed Iqbal has been living in New Zealand for over a decade and settled there. He has two children and is said to have permanent residency of that country. The gunman at one mosque was an Australian-born citizen, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in Sydney, describing him as "an extremist, right-wing, violent terrorist".
