A man from Karnataka’s Udupi district was killed in Munich, Germany, on Friday after a Guinean man stabbed him and his wife. While 49-year-old Prashant Basarur succumbed to his multiple injuries, his wife, Smita, (43) is stable.
"Indian couple Prashant and Smita Basarur were stabbed by an immigrant near Munich. Unfortunately, Prashant has expired. Smita is stable. We are facilitating the travel of Prashant's brother to Germany. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family," Sushma Swaraj wrote on Twitter.
Preliminary investigation has ruled out the possibility of a hate crime. The attacker, believed to be a 33-year-old immigrant from New Guinea, was arrested and a kitchen knife used to stab the couple was secured, reports said. His motive for targeting the couple remained unclear. Authorities said that an investigation was underway.
Sushma Swaraj appreciated the work done by the Consulate General of India in Munich and asked them to take care of the couple's children.
According to The Times of India, the attacker lived in the same apartment complex and was involved in a dispute with the couple. The couple was knifed after the altercation spiralled out of control, the report said.
Prashant received lethal blows to his head and body.
The couple, both of whom are techies, had moved to Germany 15 years ago and had obtained German citizenship only last year.
According to the Hindustan Times, the accused did not resist after police alerted by the neighbours arrested him. He was produced in an Augsburg court and was tried for attempt to murder. The report said now with the demise of Prashant, the charges will be changed to murder according to German legal proceedings.
Meanwhile, the children of the couple are being taken care of by the German government authorities.
Smita’s brother Sujay is set to fly to Germany and is seeking a visa.
