Reading, England: The tragic murder of Indian restaurant manager Vignesh Pattabhiraman has shaken the community as eight men have been arrested in connection with his death. Pattabhiraman, 36, was killed while he was cycling home from work on Valentine’s Day, striking a devastating blow to those who knew him. The Royal Berkshire Hospital declared him dead after he was hit by a vehicle in a residential area of Reading just before midnight on Feb 14. The vehicle then fled the scene, leaving Pattabhiraman behind.
Thames Valley police major crime unit have launched a murder investigation, stating that the cyclist was also assaulted by an occupant of the vehicle before it left the scene. A 24-year-old man from Reading was arrested on suspicion of murder, while seven other men, aged 20, 21, 24, 27, 31, 41, and 48, all from Reading, were also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. The suspects remain in police custody as the investigation continues.
Pattabhiraman had recently moved to Britain from Doha, where he had been working in a hotel, to take up the job of restaurant manager at Vel, an affordable authentic South Indian eatery popular with the Indian community in Reading. His wife, Ramya, also an Indian national, lived with him in Reading. Tragically, the day he was killed was his last day at work as he had recently landed a job to run a restaurant at the Hyatt Regency London — The Churchill in Marylebone.
A JustGiving page has been set up to help raise funds for his grieving family to cover the cost of repatriation of his body, funeral expenses, and to ease the burden on his family. By Monday night, £7,000 had been raised in a matter of hours, showing the outpouring of support for the family. Detective chief inspector Stuart Brangwin stated that the family of Mr. Raman is being supported by specially trained officers, emphasizing that the investigation into the circumstances of his death is ongoing. The JustGiving page highlighted Pattabhiraman’s dedication and the promising future in the hospitality industry that was tragically cut short.