The brutal beating death of a Bronx man in his apartment building last weekend is now being decried as a hate crime by his family and friends.
Family members and local activists gathered Thursday outside the funeral home where services for 59-year-old Bimal Chanda were held to demand answers in the severe beating.
Chanda died Wednesday from severe injuries he sustained during an assault in his apartment building at 30 W. 190th St. in the Fordham section of the Bronx last Saturday.
Police say Chanda, who was Bengali, was walking up the second-floor staircase when he was grabbed from behind by two men. One of the men repeatedly struck the victim with an unknown metal object, and the other grabbed cash from him. The two suspects then fled, police said.
Chanda was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital with severe head trauma, and was initially listed in critical condition. He died from his injuries at about 6 a.m. Wednesday
Police say they have no reason to believe it's a hate crime, but Chanda's widow wonders why two people would beat her husband so savagely and still leave his wallet filled with credit cards and $90 in cash intact.
"I've been hearing things, from other family, friends and relatives, other Bengali people, they've been getting mugged on a daily basis, and it's really not acceptable," said one family member.
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Chanda leaves behind a 16-year-old daughter, who is a student at the Bronx High School of Science, and a wife, who is a teacher at P.S. 340.
Anyone with information on the suspects is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS or at nypdcrimestoppers.com.
