Hundreds of people, holding placards that called for peace and unity, took part in a prayer vigil in Kansas City to celebrate the life of Indian techie Srinivas Kuchibhotla, tragically cut short by an American navy veteran in an apparent hate crime.

Marchers held pictures, banners and shouted, "We want peace"; "We love peace"; "Let us not leave our children"; "Unity is part of community, together we stand, divided we fall".

Many of them carried candles and signs reading, "We don't support politics of hate."

The march for peace and prayer meeting was attended by friends of Srinivas. Alok Madasani, another Indian who was wounded in the shooting on Wednesday, was on his crutches.

The sisters of the third man, an American identified as Ian Grillot, injured that night when he intervened during the argument with the shooter US Navy veteran Adam Purinton, and Lieutenant Governor of Kansas Jeff Colyer, US Congressman Kevin Yoder, Olathe Mayor Mike Copeland, Olathe Police Chief Steven Menke, and other state officials also joined the prayer meet.

The prayer was conducted by priests from various religions at the Hindu Temple and Cultural Centre, Kansas City. It opened with Hindu, Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh prayers and ended with participants singing John Lennon's 'Imagine'.

People march before a vigil for Srinivas Kuchibhotla

Volunteers handed out candles as visitors stoically made their way into the temple.

Earlier addressing the gathering, Alok remembered his nine years of friendship with Srinivas. "Srini was the kindest person you would meet, full of love, care and compassion for everyone. He never uttered a word of hatred, a simple gossip, or a careless comment. He would always make sure everyone is doing fine and taken good care."

"The main reason why I am here is that's what my best friend, Srinivas, would have done. He would have been here for me," Alok said.

"It's hard to believe he is not with me, not with us anymore. What happened that night is something we all wish didn't happen, but it happened."

He recalled how Srinivas never complained about picking him up and driving him to work over a six-month period. "He waited till I bought a car. That's the kind of guy he was - is. I don't even want to use 'was' because we were friends for nine years and the memories are so fresh," Alok said.

Representatives from five religions stand during a vigil for Srinivas Kuchibhotla

He called the shooting "an isolated incident that doesn't reflect the true spirit of Kansas, the Midwest and the United States." "The United States of America, for us, has been one of selfless people, hardworking people."

Other friends who spoke there had similar words for Srinivas. They described him as a positive, warm, kind, caring, brilliant, well-mannered and an absolutely outstanding human being.

Srinivas, 32, was killed and Alok, of the same age, was injured in the shooting by the 51-year-old Purinton screaming racial slurs and telling them to "get out of my country" and "terrorist" before he opened fire on them. He reportedly mistook them for immigrants from the Middle East.

L to R: File picture of Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla who was killed in a shooting in a Kansas City and accused Adam Purinton (File Photo)

The incident has led to fear among the minority Indian- American community, who feel being targeted by US President Donald Trump's controversial plan to ban travellers from certain countries to realise his campaign pledge of putting "America first."

At a news conference two days ago, Srinivas's grieving wife Sunayana Dumala asked the US government what it would do to stop hate crimes against minorities. She said reports of bias against minorities make them afraid and wonder whether "do we belong here".

Although Sunayana did not mention Trump by name, she did say, "Not everyone will be harmful to this country." At the vigil, Mayor Copeland encouraged people to come together. "One evil act does not divide a united community." "We felt the fear, shared tears, felt pain, healing and outpouring of love and care at this moment from this community - we stand together with the Indian-American community today and everyday, we will not let one act of evil separate us or divide us."

Srinivas worked at GPS-maker Garmin headquarters in Olathe. Srinivas and his colleague Alok hailed from Hyderabad and Warangal respectively.

The shooter, Purinton, was charged Thursday with first-degree murder. He was also charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder in the shootings of Alok and Ian.