Eight men have been arrested in connection with the murder of an Indian restaurant manager who was killed while cycling home from work on Valentine’s Day. Vignesh Pattabhiraman, a 36-year-old Indian citizen from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, had recently moved to the UK to work as a restaurant manager at Vel, an authentic South Indian eatery in Reading. On the night of the incident, Pattabhiraman was hit by a vehicle and assaulted before being left for dead. The vehicle then fled the scene. Thames Valley police major crime unit has initiated a murder investigation, and several suspects have been taken into custody. A 24-year-old man from Reading was arrested on suspicion of murder, while seven others were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. All remain in police custody. Pattabhiraman’s untimely death has deeply affected his family and the Indian community. He had moved to the UK with his wife, Ramya, and they were building a new life together. His parents in Coimbatore are seeking an emergency visa to fly to the UK to support their daughter-in-law and make arrangements for his repatriation. A fundraising campaign has been started to help cover the costs of repatriation, funeral expenses, and alleviate financial burdens on his family. The tragic incident has left the community in shock and mourning for a young man whose career was on the rise. Pattabhiraman’s colleagues remember him as a dedicated and warm-hearted leader, and he had recently landed a job to run a restaurant at the Hyatt Regency London — The Churchill in Marylebone. As the investigation into his death continues, the family and friends of Vignesh Pattabhiraman seek justice and closure.