An 80-year-old Indian-origin man has died from injuries sustained in a brutal assault while walking his dog in a park in Braunstone Town, near Leicester. The victim, identified locally as Bhim Sen Kohli, was attacked on Sunday evening at Franklin Park and succumbed to his injuries on Monday night, prompting a murder investigation by Leicestershire Police.
Kohli was reportedly walking his dog when he was assaulted by a group of young people, who fled the scene before emergency services arrived. Leicestershire Police have detained five children, including a 14-year-old boy and girl, and two 12-year-old boys and girls, all on suspicion of murder. They are currently being interviewed by the police.
Detective Inspector Emma Matts, Senior Investigating Officer at Leicestershire Police, stated, “Sadly, following the death of the victim last night, this has now become a murder investigation. Officers are continuing to work at speed to establish the details of the attack, and we have made a number of arrests as we continue to understand what has happened.”
The police are seeking witnesses who were in the area of Franklin Park or Bramble Way around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday. They are also urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward. A scene preservation remains in place at the park while the investigation continues, with local officers conducting reassurance patrols in the community.
The police force has disclosed that there was prior contact with the victim, leading to a voluntary referral to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC). Detectives are working to piece together the full circumstances of the incident and have been speaking to local residents to gather more information.
Kohli, who was described by friends and neighbors as a fit and active man, was reportedly just moments from home when he was attacked. His daughter shared that he had been a dedicated member of the community, actively involved in maintaining three allotments and had experienced increasing anti-social behavior in the area recently.
Sources by Agencies
