In yet another heartbreaking incident, a young Indian student passed away in Boston, with initial investigations ruling out any suspicious circumstances, officials confirmed on Monday.
Expressing deep sorrow, the Consulate General of India in New York conveyed the unfortunate news of Mr. Abhijeeth Paruchuru's demise, emphasizing his status as an Indian student in Boston.
Paruchuru's family, residing in Connecticut, is actively cooperating with detectives as they delve into the circumstances surrounding his passing, which initial inquiries suggest were not the result of foul play, the consulate stated.
Efforts were promptly made by the consulate to facilitate the necessary documentation and transportation of Paruchuru's remains back to India. The consulate continues to maintain communication with local authorities and the Indian-American community regarding the matter.
Reports indicate that the final rites for the 20-year-old Paruchuru have already been conducted in his hometown of Tenali, located in Andhra Pradesh. Assistance in repatriating his mortal remains to India was provided by the US-based nonprofit organization TEAM Aid.
Tragically, the beginning of 2024 has witnessed several deaths of Indian and Indian-origin students in the US, prompting widespread concern within the community due to the alarming spike in such incidents.
In March, Amarnath Ghosh, a 34-year-old accomplished classical dancer from India and a student at Washington University, met a fatal end in St Louis, Missouri, where he was shot multiple times near the border of St Louis' Academy and Central West End neighborhoods.
Similarly, Sameer Kamath, a 23-year-old Indian-American student at Purdue University, was discovered deceased in a nature preserve in Indiana on February 5.
Vivek Taneja, a 41-year-old Indian-origin IT executive, fell victim to a life-threatening assault outside a restaurant in Washington on February 2, marking the seventh recent death of an Indian or Indian-American individual in the US.
Prior to these incidents, Syed Mazahir Ali, an Indian student, was attacked by robbers in Chicago, while 25-year-old Vivek Saini faced a fatal assault by a homeless drug addict in Georgia State's Lithonia city.
In January, 19-year-old Shreyas Reddy Beniger, a student at the Lindner School of Business in Ohio State, was found deceased, though authorities ruled out foul play.
Further adding to the sorrow, Neel Acharya, an Indian student at Purdue University, Indiana, was confirmed deceased days after being reported missing on January 28, while Akul B Dhawan, an 18-year-old at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, was discovered dead with signs of hypothermia last month.
The string of attacks on individuals of Indian origin prompted officials from the Indian Embassy in Washington and its consulates across the US to conduct a virtual interaction with Indian students, addressing various aspects of student well-being and strategies to foster connection within the diaspora.
Led by Charge d'Affaires Ambassador Sripriya Ranganathan, the interaction saw participation from approximately 150 Indian Student Association office bearers and students representing 90 universities across the US, with Consul Generals from Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle also in attendance.
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