Sharath Koppu
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday condoled the death of an Indian student during an attempted robbery in Kansas City in the US and assured all required assistance to the family of the deceased.
According to authorities in Kansas, Sharath Koppu, who hails from Telangana, was fatally shot during a suspected incident of robbery at a restaurant where he worked. He died shortly after being taken to a hospital on Friday.
"Kansas incident - My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. We will follow this up with the Police and provide all assistance to the family," Swaraj tweeted.
"I have spoken to Sharath's father Ram Mohan Reddy in Hyderabad to convey our heartfelt condolences. We have offered that in case a family member wishes to go to Kansas, we will facilitate the US Visa. Else we will bring the mortal remains at the earliest," she said in another tweet.
Koppu from Telangana was a software engineer who came to the US in January to pursue his master's degree.
"An Indian student became victim of shooting in Kansas City, Missouri. We are in contact with his family & police. We will provide all assistance. Our officers are also on the way to Kansas City (sic)," the Consulate General of India in Chicago tweeted on Saturday.
The Kansas City Police announced a USD 10,000 reward for information leading to the suspect and released a brief video of the suspect inside the restaurant moments before the shooting.
Meanwhile, the Telangana government will make arrangements to bring back the body of Sharath Koppu, a student who was shot dead by a suspected robber in the US, a state minister said on Sunday.
The 26-year-old student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UKMC) was shot dead on Friday night at a restaurant in Kansas City in the state of Missouri.
Telangana's Minister for NRI Affairs K.T. Rama Rao along with his cabinet colleagues Kadiam Srihari and T. Srinivas Yadav visited Koppu's house at Ameerpet in Hyderabad on Sunday and consoled the family members.
Later, Rama Rao told reporters that the government would bear all the expenses to bring back the body to Hyderabad within two days.
He said the state government was in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in the US.
The minister said if Koppu's family members want to go to the US to bring the body, the government would make all necessary arrangements for their travel.
The student's father Ram Mohan, who works in Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and mother Malati were in a state of shock since receiving the news of his death on Saturday.
