Hyderabad, October 5
Telangana Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Sunday urged the Central government to take strong action to protect Indian citizens living abroad after a student, Pole Chandrashekar from the state, was reportedly shot dead in Texas.
He said the External Affairs Minister should "react strongly" and ensure the safety and security of Indians wherever they are.
Speaking to ANI, Ponnam Prabhakar said, "...External Affairs Minister should react very strongly. It is the responsibility of the government of this country to ensure that Indian citizens, wherever they are, are protected... Wherever our citizens are, we must ensure their safety and security. We express our condolences to the family."
Pole Chandrashekar, a student from BN Reddy Nagar in Rangareddy district, Telangana, was reportedly shot dead in Denton, Texas, according to his family members.
Chandrashekar had completed his BDS in India before moving to Dallas for higher studies.
His brother confirmed the incident and appealed for government assistance in bringing back the mortal remains.
"My younger brother went to the United States in 2023. We have received information that he has been shot and killed. We spent a lot of money sending him to the United States. We request the Central government to bring the mortal remains of my brother to India," he said.
His other brother provided further details, explaining that Chandrashekar had gone abroad for higher studies and was working part-time to support himself.
"He went to the US to pursue a master's in 2023. He did a part-time job at a gas station. We received information that he was shot dead by unknown persons at the gas station. We request the central and state governments to bring the mortal remains of my brother to India and take action against the person who shot my brother."
His mother, Sunitha, also shared her grief and appealed for government support.
She told ANI, "My son went to the US two years ago. He became a dental doctor here and went there to complete his post-graduation, which he has finished. Two years have passed since he started his PG. We learned about his death from his friend's parents who visited us and shared our grief. We've come to know that he was shot dead by black people last night. We request the Central and state governments to ensure the safety of Indians and bring my son's body back home as soon as possible."
— ANI
Reader Comments
While I appreciate the minister's concern, we need concrete action, not just statements. Our embassies should have better emergency response systems and safety guidelines for Indian students in countries with high crime rates.
As someone who studied in the US, I know how vulnerable international students can be. Many take up late-night jobs at gas stations and convenience stores which are high-risk locations. Universities should provide better on-campus employment options.
My heart goes out to Chandrashekar's family. He was a qualified dentist here and went for higher studies - such a promising life cut short. The government should immediately help bring his body back and provide compensation to the grieving family.
This is why many Indian parents are now reconsidering sending their children to the US. Gun violence is out of control there. Maybe we should focus on improving our own education system so students don't have to risk their lives abroad.
While the government should definitely help, students and parents also need to research safety aspects before choosing locations and jobs. Denton, Texas has had several incidents recently. Due diligence is crucial when studying abroad.
So tragic 😢 A young life lost while working hard to build a future. The Indian community in Texas should
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