Many Indians considered the U.S.A as a land of opportunities to pursue their dreams and goals. A good percentage of young Indians are providing manual labor in the world, and the US has been the favorite destination for decades.
Many Indian students value the US as a highly developed country with high security and effective policing with certain assumptions. However, recent events challenge this view.
The definition of security in the US appears to be inconsistent and is declining dramatically. Crime, fueled by a widespread marijuana and gun culture, is on the rise. Moreover, the growing hostility towards Indian students, fueled by racism, has taken lives.
In addition, there have been cases of Indian students committing suicide, attributed to depression and feelings of insecurity resulting from environmental conditions or drug use.
Sameer Kamath of Purdue University died in a gunshot wound in February 2024.
Shreyas Reddy Begineri of Cincinnati died of unknown causes in Feb 2024.
Neil Acharya of Purdue University also died on February 28, 2024 for unknown reason.
Vivek Saini of the University of Alabama was killed by a drug addict in February 2024.
Aditya Adlakha of Cincinnati Medical School was shot by an assailant in November 2023.
Varun Raj Pucha was killed on October 28, 2023
Post-mortem reports confirmed that Gattu Dinesh, 22, of Telangana and R Nikesh, 22, of Andhra Pradesh died after inhaling carbon monoxide from the room heater.
Veera Satish, 21, from Andhra Pradesh, was killed in April 2023 on by a robber at a gas station in Columbus, Ohio.
The tragic death of Jaahnavi Kandula, caused by an accident involving a police officer, went viral and shocked the world, exposing the attitude of the police and their response following such accidents.
The response of the police to these incidents raises questions. Deaths of Indian students in the USA often go unprobed, which is concerning. According to an Indian Association member, many such deaths are not reported in the media, so the actual figures may be higher than what is portrayed.
Several tragic incidents highlight the severity of the situation. Autopsy reports confirmed deaths due to carbon monoxide inhalation, murder by drug addicts, suspected robbery, and accidents involving police officers.
These deaths expose security concerns and the need for thorough investigations. It's imperative for the Indian community to raise awareness and urge US authorities to take these incidents seriously and conduct comprehensive probes.