SEP 14, 2023 : The Indian government has received assurances from the Biden administration that a prompt investigation will be conducted into the murder of Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula in Seattle after she was killed by a speeding police patrol car and that the responsible police personnel will be brought to justice. After India’s ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, vehemently brought up the matter in Washington and demanded immediate action about the killing of Kandula and the egregiously insensitive actions of the police officer in Seattle, Washington state, the US government sprang into action. Kandula was killed in January when a police car being driven by Officer Kevin Dave hit her.The Seattle Times newspaper reported on Monday that he was travelling at 74 mph (more than 119 kmph) while en route to a report of an overdose. Officer Daniel Auderer chuckled about the fatal collision and denied any suggestion that Dave might have been at blame or that a criminal investigation was required in bodycam video released by the Seattle Police Department on Monday. Indian-Americans and US officials have both voiced outrage over Kandula’s passing. The Indian government has received assurances from the Biden administration that the event will be investigated quickly and that the responsible police personnel will be brought to justice. The Ambassador and the Indian government were reportedly given assurances by senior administration officials that they were treating the entire matter seriously.They are keeping an eye on the case’s investigation from Washington, DC, to make sure that there is enough accountability. Authorities described themselves as “shocked” and “horrified” by this incidence. The treatment of Kandula’s death was described as “deeply troubling” by the Indian Consulate General in San Francisco on Wednesday. The mission stated in a post on platform X, “We have forcefully raised the subject with local authorities in Seattle and Washington State as well as key officials in Washington DC for a thorough investigation and action against individuals involved in this unfortunate situation. “The Consulate & Embassy will Continue to Closely Follow-Up on This Matter With All Concerned Authorities,” it Added. Jaahnavi Kandula, a graduate student from India, arrived here. When a police cruiser struck and murdered her while she was crossing the street, officer Auderer remarked that her life had “limited value.” My father, who immigrated here in his 20s, sprang to mind. The life of every immigrant from India has limitless value, Mr. Auderer, remarked Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna. Any person who believes that a human life has “limited value” shouldn’t work in law enforcement, according to Khanna. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, an Indian-American, declared: “This is abhorrent. Justice for the family of Jaahnavi Kandula and accountability for those responsible are my hopes. The words made by one person, according to Seattle City Mayor Bruce Harrell in a letter to the Kandula family, do not represent the opinions of the city or the people who call it home. In his letter to the Kandula family, Harrell stated, “We recognise that Jaahnavi’s death is a loss for our entire community—the loss of a young woman who had so much life ahead of her to do amazing things and share that joy with loved ones.” On this matter, Seattle City and Washington State officials have been in frequent contact with Indian Consul General Ashok Mandula in San Francisco. Harrell offered the Kandula family his sincere condolences, saying that the entire community “is heartbroken and mourns alongside your family, friends, and everyone who shared the privilege of knowing” her. Community leader Ajay Bhutoria offered condolences for Kandula’s untimely loss and added that her passing serves as a reminder of the value of maintaining everyone’s safety and respect. The awful statement and subpar behaviour of a Seattle police officer during this incident severely upset us. Every person deserves decency, fairness, and compassion, regardless of their history or circumstances, he stated.Bhutoria called this behaviour deplorable and emphasised the importance of thoroughly investigating such events and upholding responsibility in order to preserve public confidence in law enforcement. “As a neighbourhood, we must come together to stand up for Jaahnavi’s family and promote constructive change. We implore the authorities to act quickly to solve this issue and put policies in place to prevent other sad occurrences, according to Bhutoria. According to the Seattle Office of Police Accountability, an inquiry into the incident has been launched and must be finished by January 29.
