New York: Police in North Brunswick, New Jersey, have reportedly confirmed that an Indian American Rohit Patel was beaten over the head by a stranger because he was Indian.

According to CBS News, 57-year-old Patel said that it hurt to talk after he was beaten up. His son Dipen Patel said that his dad was innocent and was on his daily walk when he was targeted.

Patel said that someone followed him for less than a minute before knocking him out with a blow to the head. Police arrested the alleged attacker and identified the man as 24-year-old Nyle Kilgore, who also lives in North Brunswick.