Teen knocked unconscious

ASSAULTED . . . Mohammed Talukdar

A TEENAGER was left unconscious in the undergrowth after three yobs attacked him near the South Chadderton tram stop.

The 18-year-old was on his way home in the late afternoon with headphones on, listening to music, and had not heard the group walking behind him along the platform.

In the unprovoked attack a group of three youths are understood to have grabbed Mohammed Talukdar by the neck and punched him in the nose, causing him to fall unconscious.

They are then alleged to have dragged him to the woodland area in Coalshaw Green Park, near the footpath which links the tram stop to Coalshaw Green Road.

Shame

Mohammed's family urged the offenders to "have some shame and hand themselves in."

Mum Shazna Bibi, from Hollinwood, said: "Mohammed noticed the three men as he got off the tram.

"They were walking behind him normally but all of a sudden one of them grabbed him by the neck.

"He had his headphones on and didn't hear them coming.

"They came from behind and punched him on the nose which made him fall on the floor unconscious. Then they dragged him into a quiet place in the trees away from the platform.

"He felt dizzy when he woke up but saw the three men walk off. Two other men walking passed saw him and came to help him.

"My son is unwell and still feels scared and shaken. He has been having nightmares since the incident happened."

The Oldham Sixth Form College pupil had taken the tram from Oldham Central to South Chadderton on his way home on Saturday when he was robbed at around 3.30pm.

When Mohammed came round he called one of his cousins to come to his aid, who then accompanied him to A&E.

The three men had stolen two chains that Mohammed had been wearing around his neck ­- one was silver and one gold ­- valued at around £500.

Shazna said: "I found out from a family member that he was in A&E. I was shocked. There are cuts and bruises all over his face."

The Royal Oldham Hospital were unable to stitch the deep wound and Mohammed has been told it will take two years to heal."

Transport for Greater Manchester recently announced a major investment in public transport safety, including 900 hours per week of additional security support on the tram network, 50 new PCSOs to patrol the transport network and a new police sergeant and four police constables. Danny Vaughan, head of Metrolink, said: "We're working closely with Greater Manchester Police investigators and have handed over CCTV footage."