The Indian state of Punjab has agreed to bear the costs of airlifting Yannick Nihangaza, a Burundian student who was attacked in India in April, back to Africa.
Nihangaza, 24, was studying computer science at a privately run university in the town of Jalandhar. On 22 April, apparently while walking to a party, he was attacked by a group of local young men, stoned, beaten and left for dead. He has been in a coma ever since. “Follow-up treatment has shown that little more [can] be done, as the victim has suffered extensive neurological damage,” reports India’s national newspaper, The Hindu.
Last month, a US-based anonymous donor agreed to pay Nihangaza’s medical expenses, estimated at US$100,000,according to Bujumbura News.
On Monday, The Hindu reported, the Punjab state government expressed its willingness to pay the cost of airlifting Nihangaza to hospital in Rwanda, as well as the travel expenses of his father, Nestor Ntibateganya, who has been in India looking after his son since shortly after the attack.
Two young men have been arrested in connection with the attack, and a third is being extradited from Australia, The Hindu has reported.
