Government will provide all possible support to the family of the deceased, says Vikas Swarup

The Indian envoy stationed in Houston has rushed to provide assistance to the family of an NRI engineer who was shot dead in a hate crime in Kansas late Thursday. Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Vikas Swarup said that the government will provide all possible support to the family of the deceased who was killed in an attack that left another Indian injured.

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“Consul R.D.Joshi is rushing from Houston to Kansas to render all possible assistance. Vice Consul, Harpal Singh is also proceeding from Dallas to Kansas. They will meet the injured and facilitate in bringing the mortal remains of the deceased and will be in touch with local police officials to ascertain more details of the incident and monitor follow up action,” said Mr. Swarup explaining that the officials will also meet Indian community members in Kansas.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj took to social media soon after two Indians Srinivas Kuchibhotla and Alok Madasani were shot at a bar in Olathe, Kansas. “I am shocked at the shooting incident in Kansas in which Srinivas Kuchibhotla has been killed. My hearfelt condolences to bereaved family,” Ms. Swaraj said on Twitter. She also spoke to the Indian ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna regarding the case.

“During the incident a third person, an American, who tried to intervene also received injuries,” Mr. Swarup confirmed. News reports from Kansas revealed that 24-year old Ian Grillot chased the shooter, a former US navy recruit after he fired at the Indians shouting, “Get out of my country”. Mr. Grillot is currently stable but hospitalised with serious injuries.

Mr. Madasani was released after treatment in a local hospital. MEA confirmed that the deceased and the injured persons are from Hyderabad and Warangal and were employed at Garmin Engineering, a technology major with bases in US and Switzerland.