New Delhi: Well-known writer Salman Rushdie’s condition remains critical. He remains on ventilator right now. It is feared that Rushdie may lose one of his eyes. His eye and a nerve in one hand have suffered deep injuries. At the same time, he also has a deep injury in his liver.

Rushdie, 75, was attacked with a knife on August 12 during an event in New York. He was stabbed in the throat and stomach. The injured Rushdie was immediately taken to the hospital, where he underwent surgery. Here the police arrested the attacker from the spot.

Salman Rushdie being taken to hospital via helicopter

Salman Rushdie started receiving death threats in the 80s for his novel ‘Satanic Verses’. A fatwa was issued against him by the then Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Khomeini. Khomeini had issued a fatwa to kill Rushdie. Due to these threats, Salman Rushdie had to live in hiding. He also kept changing his name.

Who is Hadi Matar?

According to the report of the international news agency AP, the attacker has been identified as Hadi Matar, 24. However, the police are yet to ascertain the reason behind the attack on Rushdie. Giving information about the attacker, Major Eugene Staniszewski of the New York State Police said that he climbed onto the stage and attacked Rushdie at least twice. Once in the throat and once in the stomach.

Major Staniszewski said the police were in the process of obtaining different search warrants. He said that a backpack and some electronic devices were also found from the spot. He said that the investigation is still in the initial stage, the motive behind the attack has not been ascertained yet. The Major told that the New York Police is working closely with the FBI. The Major further said that at the moment it is believed that the attacker single-handedly carried out this attack.