An incident of double murder at a bakery in Dubai has sent shock waves across the UAE. A Pakistani national, shouting religious slogans, had allegedly entered the bakery and killed two male workers there with a sword. While he aimed to kill the third person, his attempt failed and that one man escaped with injuries.

The victims – Ashtapu Premsagar and Srinivas – hailed from Telangana in Andhra Pradesh. Premsagar, who was working at the bakery for the past six years, had last visited his family two years ago. His wife and two children depended on his income and are very poor, said a relative, who has requested the government to arrange for repatriation of his mortal remains to Soan village in Nirmal district where Premsagar’s family is. He has also urged the government to provide them financial aid.

Home Minister of State Bandi Sanjay Kumar said he has spoken to authorities at the Ministry of External Affairs, who are looking into the matter to speedily help the bereaved.

The family of Srinivas, from Nizamabad district, has also been informed, said Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy.

Sagar, the man injured in the attack, is undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Reddy said in a post on X: “Deeply shocked by the brutal killing of two Telugu youth from Telangana in Dubai, Ashtapu Premsagar from Nirmal district and Srinivas from Nizamabad district. Spoke to Hon’ble External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar ji on the matter and he has assured full support to the bereaved families, and the urgent repatriation of the mortal remains.”

The Dubai police has been asked by the Indian consulate to ‘expedite the process’. Efforts are on to repatriate the victims at the earliest. – Illustration by freepik – editor@nrifocus.com