Kansas shooting: Embassy rushes to heal wounds

HYDERABAD: Worried Indian embassy officials in the United States met members of the Indian community in Kansas city and assured them of all assistance and help. Authorities in Houston reacted swiftly following the shooting in the city with US consul R D Joshi and vice-consul H Singh meeting the local community.
Alok Madasani, who suffered bullet injuries in the shooting, was also assured of all possible support from officials.“He is safe and has been assured all support,” Anupam Ray, the consul general of India in Houston said. Officials said that any assistance needed would also be given to transport Srinivas Kuchibhotla’s body to India.
The shooting by a retired Navy official, who has since been arrested, has sparked outrage on the Internet. Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday spoke to K K Sastry, Srinivas Kuchibhotla’s brother in Hyderabad and conveyed her condolences to the family. “I am shocked at the shooting incident in Kansas in which Srinivas Kuchibhotla has been killed. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. I have spoken to Indian Ambassador in US Mr Navtej Sarna. He informed me that two Indian Embassy officials have rushed to Kansas,” Sushma Swaraj, said on twitter on Friday morning. “We will provide all help and assistance to the bereaved family. We will make all arrangements to transport the mortal remains of Srinivas Kuchibhotla to Hyderabad,” the minister said.
The minister said that the Indian Ambassador had also informed her that Madasani has been discharged from the hospital and was home.
Regular attacks on the Indian community has left many angry and apprehensive about venturing out in the streets in the US. On February 10, M Vamsi Reddy, 27, was shot dead in Milpitas city by a drug addict and carjacker.
“We are extremely worried as we have so many of our friends and relatives living there,” said Dr Ashok Reddy, a physician working in Hyderabad.