Governor Robert Bentley of the US state of Alabama has apologised to the Indian government for injuries sustained by an Indian grandfather who was roughed up by police while visiting his family in Madison.
Sureshbhai Patel, 57, was partially paralysed after he was thrown to the ground by a policeman, who has since been suspended and criminally charged.
Bentley said the police used "excessive force" on Patel.
"I deeply regret the unfortunate use of excessive force by the Madison Police Department on Sureshbhai Patel and for the injuries sustained by Mr Patel," Bentley wrote in a letter sent to Ajit Kumar, the Indian Consul General in Atlanta, on Tuesday.
"I sincerely hope that Mr Patel continues to improve and that he will regain full use of his legs," Bentley said.
The governor said he had directed the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to conduct an investigation into the incident parallel to one being done by the FBI.
“I wish to assure you and the government of India that we will see that justice is done arising from the use of excessive force under color of state law upon a citizen of India,” he wrote.
Eric Parker, the officer involved, has pleaded not guilty.
Patel, who speaks no English, has filed a case that alleged race played a part in the incident on February 6. Patel had recently arrived in the US to visit his son Chirag Patel.
He was walking outside Chirag’s home in an Alabama suburb when police said they received a call from a neighbour about a suspicious person.
Footage from police cameras showed Patel trying to walk away when the police officers approached him. One of the officers then shoved him to the ground.
Patel suffered severe injuries, including fused vertebrae and partial paralysis of his leg. He is now recuperating at home after leaving hospital on Monday.
India’s External Affairs Ministry took the incident “very seriously” and contacted US officials in Washington and Alabama to address the issue.
Click here to read governor’s letter
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