Assault on Indian storekeeper in Bahrain to be probed

Police in Bahrain have launched a probe into the incident of stabbing and robbing of an Indian man by a group of assailants on a busy road, media reported Tuesday.

Riyas Povval, 28, was injured in an attack by a gang of eight men Sunday night who raided the mobile shop he worked in the busy Hoora area of Manama, Gulf Daily News reported.

The assailants managed to flee with cash and several mobile phones.

The victim told the newspaper that he suffered stab wounds in his stomach and a broken finger.

Povval said he was dragged by attackers onto the street and stabbed in full public view.

However, none of the onlookers came to his rescue.

The assault took place when Povval caught two Bahraini customers while they were stealing money from the shop.

"He (one of the attacker-customer) held my collar and my left hand to stop me and started beating me. He then broke my finger on my left hand and I cried out in pain," Povval was quoted as saying.

"The same man called some of his friends who were standing outside the shop. They all held me and dragged me out of the shop," Povval added.

Then one of the gang members stabbed him.

Police were called to the scene as the assailants fled.

Povval said his friends then took him to Salmaniya Medical Complex in Manama.

An investigation has been launched into the incident, the report said.