Indian student critical after knife attack in Indiana; father appeals for help

A 24-year-old Indian student T Varun Tej was brutally stabbed

NEW DELHI | Updated: 01 November, 2023 8:53 pm IST
A 24 year old student stabbed in US

NEW DELHI: In a disturbing incident, 24-year-old Indian student T Varun Tej was brutally stabbed by Jordan Andrade at a public gym in Valparaiso city, Indiana, last week. Varun Tej, currently in critical condition, is being treated at Fort Wayne’s Lutheran Hospital. The motive behind the attack remains unknown.

Varun Tej’s father, Ramurthy, a government school teacher, met with district minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar, urging him to intervene with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to secure better medical treatment for his son. While authorities believe the attack is an isolated incident, there is no ongoing threat to the public.

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However, this is not the only incident when an Indian student was killed in a foreign land. This tragic incident brings to light the recurring issue of violence against Indian students abroad. In 2018, MBA student Pulluri Shashank survived a shooting in Tennessee, emphasising the need for increased safety measures for the international student community.

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Another Indian student, Jaahnavi Kandula, is a 23-year-old woman pursuing a Master’s degree in Seattle. The horrifying body camera footage revealed she was fatally struck by a police cruiser driven by Seattle officer Kevin Dave in January. The insensitive remarks made by Seattle Police Department union leader Daniel Auderer further highlight the challenges faced by Indian students studying abroad.

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