NEBRASKA – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate an alleged attack on a Nebraska man by an assailant who reportedly shouted “ISIS” and obscenities at the victim.

The Indian immigrant, who is not Muslim, said he suffered a fractured nose, split lip and a bruised calf after being punched repeatedly while taking trash out to the dumpster at Kurry Xpress, where he works. 

Prior to the assault, the alleged attacker accused the victim of being a “terrorist.” The attacker reportedly shouted: “ISIS (expletive). Get out of my country.”

“He started punching me fast. Then I started covering my face like this. Then he gave me a punch,” Suthahar Subburaj said.

A co-worker found him and called the police. 

Subburaj said he went to the hospital with a fractured nose, split lips and a bruised calf where he said he was kicked. 

He added that no one should be the target of hate-inspired violence. He said he came to America for a better life found that; but he also found that not everyone can see the American beneath his skin.

“People, they see brown color and they think I’m from Saudi Arabia or an Arabic country or religion,” he said.

Subburaj said the restaurant will be installing cameras on the parking lot to discourage more random attacks. 

In a statement, CAIR urged local law enforcement officials to look into the incident.

“We urge law enforcement authorities to investigate this attack as a hate crime and for public officials to repudiate the growing Islamophobia in our society that inevitably leads to violence and discrimination targeting American Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.