Patiala, June 16
Burundi national Yannick Nihangaza, who slipped into coma after being brutally assaulted in Jalandhar two years ago, was today flown to his country in an air ambulance from Patiala Aviation Club.

Yannick Nihangaza (inset), who slipped into coma after being assaulted, being flown to Burundi in an air ambulance from Patiala on Monday.

Yannick was pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science at Lovely Professional University. He was on his way to a party on April 22, 2012, when he was attacked by a group of nine students. Seven of the nine attackers have been sentenced to 10-year imprisonment. The other two fled to Australia.

Yannick’s father Nestor Ntibateganya had written to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on June 20, 2012, regarding the condition of his son after which Yannick was shifted to Columbia Asia Hospital, Patiala.

Since then, Yannick remained on a life support. Yannick is unable to make any movement of upper and lower limbs even as his blood pressure and pulse rate are normal.

All this while, his father had been sitting by his side waiting for his son’s recovery. He finally urged the Punjab Government to airlift him to his country. Yannick was airlifted by a team of doctors of ‘Saras Rescue’ led by Dr Parvez Aslem at 6.30 am.

Yannick was airlifted to his country after the Punjab Government agreed to bear the Rs 75 lakh cost for the same. The air ambulance will take him to Brumic Medical and Research Centre in Burundi.

Punjab minister Surjit Singh Rakhra and Patiala Deputy Commissioner Varun Roojam were present at the airport for Yannick’s departure. His father Nestor Ntibateganya thanked the CM for facilitating their return to Burundi.

However, he was still disappointed that the accused got only 10-year sentence. He said the accused should be given the same punishment as given for killing someone because his son was on the deathbed with hardly any chances of recovery. He also demanded the arrest of the remaining accused.

Meanwhile, the Colombia Asia hospital here has handed over the bill for Nihangaza’s treatment to SDM Gurpal Singh Chahal. The chief of medical services at the hospital, Dr V Bhatnagar, refused to divulge details. However, hospital sources said a bill was around Rs 3.5 crore.

Meanwhile, the Sarbat Da Bhala Charitable Trust gave $1000 to Yannick’s father Nestor Nihangaza at Patiala Aviation Club.