Kandula's death case – a grim reminder of a US cop's brutal assault on Sureshbhai Patel

New Delhi, Feb 24 (IANS) The recent development in the Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula’s death case in the US echoes a 2015 incident in the state of Alabama where a police officer was acquitted for brutally assaulting an Indian man, which left him partially paralyzed.

Kandula, a student of Northeastern University in South Lake Union, died in January 2023 after she was hit by a Seattle Police vehicle driven by police officer Kevin Dave at a pedestrian crossing. Despite the family pursuing legal rights to obtain justice, the King’s County Prosecutor’s Office stated they would not be pressing charges against Dave due to the “lack of sufficient evidence”.

In a similar incident in 2015, police officer Eric Parker was acquitted after being accused of using excessive force against Gujarat resident Sureshbhai Patel, who was left needing spinal surgery and rehabilitation after the brutal assault. The case sparked outrage within the Indian community in the US.

Patel, who did not speak English, was approached by police while taking a walk around his son’s home in Madison Alabama, leading to a violent confrontation captured on patrol vehicle cameras. Following multiple trials and mistrials, the officer was eventually acquitted, although a lawsuit against the City of Madison was settled in 2021 for $1.75 million.

As the Indian community in the US continues to seek justice for victims like Kandula and Patel, concerns have been raised over a series of recent Indian deaths in the country. Vivek Saini, Sameer Kamath, Neel Acharya, G Dinesh, and Nikesh are among the tragic cases, highlighting the need for increased awareness and protection of Indian students and residents in the US.

The Indian Consulate has been monitoring the progress of Kandula’s case and has raised the matter with local authorities, including the Seattle Police, to ensure appropriate redress. The family’s pursuit of justice for Kandula, along with the broader issue of Indian deaths in the US, remains an ongoing concern that requires attention and action from both Indian and US authorities to prevent future tragedies.