A 33-year-old attacker, who is accused of second-degree assault of a Palms West Hospital Indian-origin nurse is facing a hate crime charge in USA.

As per reports, A 66-year-old Indian-origin nurse, Leelamma Lal was punched repeatedly, breaking her facial bones by a patient at Palms West Hospital in Florida.

Scantlebury allegedly confessed, “Indians are bad. I just beat the s*** out of an Indian doctor,” leading prosecutors to apply hate crime enhancements, which could increase his penalties if convicted.

In a second-degree felony, the maximum sentence that a person faces is 15 years and in this case, it might be elevated to a first-degree with a 30-year maximum punishment, as per reports.

According to Palm Beach Sheriff, hate crime enhancements, if proven, can result in harsher penalties upon conviction.

Indian community up in arms against hate crime

The Hindu American Foundation took to X, “A patient in a Florida hospital is in custody after critically injuring nurse, Leela Lal, taunting that 'Indians are bad' and 'I just beat the shout of that Indian doctor'. Escalating anti-India rhetoric is endangering lives. It must stop.”

According to local reports, nurses and doctors gathered to protest for stronger protection laws.

Indian Nurses Association South Florida rolled out a petition calling for harsher penalties for those who assault healthcare workers and has gathered over 16,000 signatures in just two days.

The non-profit organisation wrote, “There is no overstating the gravity of this issue. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that healthcare facilities, where nurses predominantly work, experience significantly higher rates of workplace violence compared to other industries.”