US Regrets Sureshbhai Patel Issue

New Delhi, Feb 18 (IANS) The US has "respectfully acknowledged" India's concern and protests over Madison police using excessive force on Indian national Sureshbhai Patel Feb 6.

Responding to Indian consul general in Atlanta Ajit Kumar's protest against the incident, Alabama governor Robert Bentley said Tuesday he deeply regretted the incident.

"I deeply regret the unfortunate use of excessive force by the Madison police department on Sureshbhai Patel and for the injuries sustained by him. I sincerely hope that Patel continues to improve and that he will regain the full use of his legs," he wrote in a letter to Ajit Kumar.

Bentley also instructed to the director of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to commence a parallel investigation to the one being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

"I will see that justice is done...," he said.

Ajit Kumar had visited Patel in Huntsville Hospital Feb 14 and enquired about his well-being.

On Feb 16, the Indian official had conveyed "deep concern" over the issue of force being used on a senior Indian national Sureshbhai Patel, who had arrived in Madison to help his son and daughter-in-law take care of their 17-month-old child.