Mistaken for thief, Russian national assaulted in Telangana

A farmer attacked and assaulted a Russian tourist, mistaking the latter for a thief lurking in his farm on Friday night in Bhiknoor village of Kamareddy district.

V Oleg (45) of Moscow, who is on a world tour on his bicycle, pitched his tent on Mahender Reddy's farm on his way to Shirdi (Maharashtra), as it was raining cats and dogs and he needed a shelter.

Oleg was beaten up by Reddy and his neighbours inflicting injury on his head, jaw and right hand and is undergoing treatment at the state-run Osmania General Hospital in Hyderabad.

Oleg said that there was heavy rain in several parts of Telangana on Friday night and a hailstorm in Bhiknoor and surrounding areas, forcing him to suspend his cycle yatra for a while.

Oleg chose to stop by at a farm on national highway No 44 where he pitched his tent.

After the rain stopped late in the night, Reddy came to his farm to check if there was any damage.

Reddy saw Oleg lying down inside the tent.

He mistook Oleg for a thief lurking in the farm. Oleg tried to explain his situation in Russian.

Since Reddy did not understand Russian, he attacked the tourist with a metal torch light.  

Oleg, who could had no time to turn to Google Translator on his laptop to understand what the farmer is saying, also retaliated and attacked Reddy.

The Kamareddy Police have reported the matter to the Russian Embassy in New Delhi.

Oleg had entered India on January 25 this year and has a visit visa valid till July 16.

Kamareddy Superintendent of Police N Swetha said that the incident occurred due to miscommunication and mistaken identity.