Indian girl was thrown 100 feet after police car hit her

WASHINGTON: The Biden administration has assured the Indian government of a quick investigation into the horrific death of Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula in Seattle after being struck by a speeding police patrol car and bringing to justice the police officers who were responsible for it.
The US government swung into action after India's ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, strongly raised the issue at the highest level in Washington and sought prompt action on the killing of Kandula, and the highly insensitive behaviour of the police officer in Seattle in Washington state.
Kandula, 23, was killed in January after she was struck by a police vehicle driven by officer Kevin Dave. He was driving at 119 kmph on the way to a report of an overdose, the Seattle Times newspaper reported on Monday.
Kandula was in the crosswalk and was thrown 100 feet when she was struck by the police patrol car on January 23.
In bodycam footage released on Monday by the Seattle police department, officer Daniel Auderer laughed about the crash and dismissed any implication Dave might be at fault or that a criminal investigation was necessary.
US lawmakers and Indian-Americans have expressed outrage over the death of Kandula. Senior administration officials are believed to have assured the ambassador Sandhu and the Indian government that the entire incident has been taken very seriously by them.
They are monitoring its investigation from Washington DC the progress of the case to ensure that there is adequate accountability.
"Jaahnavi Kandula came to US for graduate work from India. She was killed on a crosswalk by a speeding police car, and officer Auderer said her life had "limited value". I thought of my dad who came to US in his 20s. Auderer, the life of every Indian immigrant has infinite value," Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna said.
"Anyone who thinks that a human life has limited value should not be serving in law enforcement," Khanna said. Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said: "This is appalling. I hope to see justice for Jaahnavi Kandula's family and accountability for those involved."
Kandula was set to graduate this coming December from the Seattle campus of Northeastern University. Her family said she was working toward supporting her mother in India.